Morocco held Brazil to a 1-1 draw on June 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The result, witnessed by 80,663 spectators, was not a shock. It was a confirmation.
Four years after becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, Morocco opened its 2026 campaign by going toe-to-toe with one of the sport’s most decorated programs. A record ten African nations qualified for this tournament.
How the match unfolded
Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead in the 21st minute. Brazil’s response came through Vinícius Júnior, who equalized in the 32nd minute with a solo effort. The second half settled into a tactical chess match, and the game ended level.
Both teams now sit in Group C alongside Haiti and Scotland. The top two teams will advance to the round of 32, with a possible path forward for the third-place finisher as well.
