Brazil 1-1 Morocco – report, result, goals as Vinicius Junior earns point for Selecao against ‘brave’ Atlas Lions
Vinicius Junior’s stunning strike spared Brazil their first World Cup opener defeat since 1934 as a record five champions secured a point against formidable Morocco in New Jersey.
Reigning Eredivisie Player of the Season Ismael Saibari passed the ball to Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz and played a superb first-time pass past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson to give the Atlas Lions the lead in the 21st minute, only for Blancos striker Vinicius Junior to find the inspiration left inside the box missing after 1 box.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti sent on Danilo and Fabinho for Roger Ibanez and Casemiro at half-time, replacing two previously booked players.
Alisson cleverly turned away Neil El Aynaoui and Ayoube Amaimouni in quick succession inside 10 minutes of second-half extra time, the only two teams ranked in FIFA’s top 10 to meet each other in the group stage to show how they can strike in a contest expected to go the distance.
2026 World Cup: How Morocco impressed against Brazil
Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco reached the semi-finals in 2022 and Mohamed Ouahbi – who made his World Cup debut as a manager alongside Ancelotti – saw his side play a game to suggest they can at least do it again.
“I like the way they play the game,” former Uruguay midfielder and Greece coach Gus Poyet told BBC Sport.
“It is not easy to say ‘OK, we are playing against Brazil, the first game of the World Cup – let’s go from the beginning’.
“It can work against you, they were brave, they had good football skills and they created chances until they got a goal, maybe at that point, they deserved it.
“I was surprised how bad Brazil was technically. They were missing easy passes. In the end, both teams played to a draw and there were no chances in the second half.”
Brazil vs Morocco analysis: Igor Thiago misses out
Brentford’s Igor Thiago was the second top scorer in the Premier League last season but the Brazilian newcomer missed a great opportunity to head home Vinicius Junior’s cross.
“I can’t say what I said in the air after he missed, but I would be very disappointed,” said Poyet. “Me, at least.
“Great cross, he ran well and the ball was in front of him, it looked like he missed it completely.
“He will be disappointed because that is why he is playing today, his presence in the box.”
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said Vinicius Junior’s movement allowed him to beat Achraf Hakimi and hand Thiago “on a plate”.
“It could be all that [Thiago] I had a dream before the game, didn’t I?” asked Hart. “He just made a mistake and stopped connecting. You probably saw the goal before it happened.”
Brazil, Morocco and World Cup games
Both teams will play next on Thursday. Here are their remaining group stage fixtures, with an asterisk indicating the matches that started the previous day in that area.
| The day | Repair | Start time is BST | ET | PT |
| June 19 | Scotland vs Morocco | 23:00 | 18:00 | 15:00 |
| June 20 | Brazil vs. Haiti | 01:30 | 20:30* | 17:30* |
| June 24 | Scotland vs Brazil | 23:00 | 18:00 | 15:00 |
| June 24 | Morocco vs. Haiti | 23:00 | 18:00 | 15:00 |
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 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, received a surprise call-up after not playing at club level for the past three years due to injury.
The Santos striker was watching from the bench as he continued 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 from their 1-1 draw with fellow World Cup participants, Norway in Harrison last Sunday, bringing on Abde Ezzalzouli’s Bilal El Khannouss, 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
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 the first non-Brazilian to manage Brazil in the final, 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 Hakimi made more tackles (26) than any other player at the 2022 World Cup and recorded the second most doubles wins (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.
