Vinicius Junior’s ‘brilliant’ goal for Brazil against Morocco after England star questions ‘unacceptable’ Gabriel and Marquinhos

Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead with a fine finish in the Atlas Lions’ 2026 World Cup clash with Brazil – but Vinicius Junior leveled for the Selecao in the first half of the two sides’ opening game of the tournament.

Real Madrid livewire Brahim Diaz floated through the center to find Saibari, who curled a strike past Liverpool’s developing goalkeeper Alisson to give the 2022 semi-finalists a 21st-minute lead in New Jersey.

MOROCCO LEADS IN BRAZIL! 😮🇲🇦

Brahim Diaz curls a superb ball past Ismael Saibari to give Morocco the lead in New Jersey! #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DH31szXvKz

— Game of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 13, 2026

In his first World Cup match as manager, Carlo Ancelotti threw his punches aside when Madrid’s Vinicius Junior collected a pass from Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, cut inside the box on the left and found the far corner of the net 11 minutes later.

“Knowing what he wants to do and stopping him are two different things,” England striker Alan Shearer told BBC Sport of the 25-year-old.

“The one thing you can’t do is let him get back inside that right foot, because he’s in danger of putting it into the top corner.”

Brazil equalize with a great strike from Vinicius Junior! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/rRBSI3lzLn

— Game of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 13, 2026

2026 World Cup: Vinicius Junior’s goal ‘very special’

Vinicius Junior’s 10th goal for Brazil came in his 50th game to ease the fears of fans who Shearer said were “angry and hurt” at their players’ lack of “responsibility” in football.

“When you’re under a lot of pressure like Brazil, you look to your star to say ‘let it go, because we haven’t done anything in this game, so far’,” suggested the former striker.

All eyes are on him, everyone is looking to him to do something very special, and he does just that.

Brazil vs Morocco analysis: Marquinhos, Gabriel suffer

Brazilian defenders include Marquinhos, who won the 2025/26 Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, and Gabriel, who lost the final with Arsenal.

No one can follow the trail of 2025/26 Eredivisie Player of the Season Saibari, who has gone through the huge gap left by the duo to score points.

“He has the option to go around Alisson, because Alisson is coming at him with speed,” commented Shearer.

“But no. Belief and understanding and confidence to lift him up like that – perfection. A very good goal, really.

World Cup 2026: Team Brazil vs Morocco

Brazil made two changes from their 2-1 win over Egypt in Cleveland on June 6. Full-back Wesley (adductor) withdrew from the squad earlier in the week and was replaced by Roger Ibanez, while Gabriel also came in behind Leo Pereira, who moved to the bench.

Defender Eder Militao (thigh), winger Willian Estevao (hamstring) and striker Rodrygo (knee) missed the final due to injury.

Wesley has been pushed out of the squad by Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who is set to join Manchester United.

Brazil’s leading goalscorer, Neymar, has been given a surprise appearance after not playing at club level for the past three years due to injury. The Santos striker was continuing to rehabilitate his injured left calf.

Brazil starting XI: Alisson, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos, Douglas Santos, Roger Ibanez, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Igor Thiago

Substitutes for Brazil: Weverton, Ederson, Alex Sandro, Danilo, Bremer, Leo Pereira, Ederson Silva, Fabinho, Danilo Santos, Matheus Cunha, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, Rayan

2026 World Cup: Morocco to face Brazil

Morocco made one change during their 1-1 draw with fellow World Cup participants Norway in Harrison last Sunday, replacing Bilal El Khannouss for Abde Ezzalzouli, who is out of the tournament.

Defender Nayef Aguard missed the squad with a groin injury and striker Ezzalzouli withdrew after injuring his knee in a collision with teammate Chadi Riad against Norway.

Angry striker Amine Sbai and veteran defender or midfielder Marwane Saadane, from Saudi Al-Fateh, replaced the pair.

Morocco starting XI: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Brahim Diaz

Morocco instead: Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Marwane Saadane, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Youssef Belammari, Redouane Halhal, Anass Salah Eddine, Sofyan Amrabat, Chemsdine Talbi, Samir El Mourabet, Gessime Yassine, Soufiane Rahimi, Amine Unimoub Kabai

Where to watch Brazil vs Morocco: TV channel, live streaming online

Kick-off on Saturday was at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, broadcast live on BBC One.

Fans can stream the action on a huge range of devices via the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC Sport website.

World Cup 2026: Brazil vs Morocco stats

• Brazil’s 4-1 win over Italy in the 1970 final is the joint biggest victory in a World Cup final – with Pele scoring one goal and assisting two – along with Brazil’s 5-2 win over Sweden in 1958 and France’s 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 final.
• The Selecao, Germany, Italy, and Argentina have combined to win 73% of all FIFA World Cup competitions, claiming 16 of the 22 titles.
• They are the only team to have participated in every World Cup since it was first published in 1930, this being their 23rd appearance.
• Since 1982, Brazil has topped its first round group in every World Cup. They are also unbeaten in their last 20 opening games in the finals, having won 17 and drawn three since losing 3-1 to Spain in 1934.
• Ancelotti is in his first World Cup as head coach and is the first non-Brazilian to manage Brazil in the finals, although he played for Italy in 1990, taking part in three matches including the third place match against England (2-1)
• That performance by Morocco in 2022 was the highest finish by any African country in the tournament’s history
• Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi captained France Under-21s until the midfielder’s move to Morocco was approved in May.
• Reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi made more tackles (26) than any other player at the 2022 World Cup and recorded the second most duels won (41)
• Born in Spain, Brahim Diaz scored the most goals in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations with five goals
• Before progressing to the last four, Morocco had won two of their last 16 World Cup matches.