Brazil kicked off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco on June 13, and the ripple effects are already being felt beyond the pitch. The match, played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw Vinícius Júnior rescue a point for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after Morocco’s Ismael Saibari opened the scoring.
What happened on the pitch
Morocco drew first blood through Saibari, putting Brazil on the back foot early. Vinícius Júnior equalized in the 32nd minute, but Brazil never looked commanding.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was arguably the team’s best player, making crucial saves late in the match to prevent a loss. Neymar, still Brazil’s most marketable star, was unavailable due to a calf injury.
Ancelotti, the Italian coaching legend who took the unusual step of managing a national team mid-career, shouldered the blame for the underwhelming performance. For a five-time World Cup champion widely considered a tournament favorite, a draw against Morocco in the opener is the kind of result that raises uncomfortable questions.
