World Cup 2026: Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its opener behind Vinicius Junior goal
Morocco, semi-finalists four years ago, took the early lead and Ismael Saibari put the African champions ahead in the 21st minute.
Brazil equalized the score 11 minutes later. Vinicius exchanged passes with Bruno Guimaraes on the left wing, took touches to open space and scored his 10th international goal by crossing the outstretched arm of Yassine Bounou with his right foot.
Brazil, seeking their first World Cup title since 2002, entered the tournament with high expectations and the yellow-red Selecao fans, who dominated the 80,663-strong crowd at MetLife Stadium, calmed down a bit before Vinicius leveled the score with a superbly angled effort.
Sixth-seeded Brazil and seventh-seeded Morocco were the only top 10 teams to meet in the first round of the expanded 48-nation World Cup tournament.
Despite shaky moments, Brazil managed to extend their unbeaten run in World Cup openers to 21, including 17 wins, since losing to Spain in 1934.
Brazil will face Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday, then close Group C with Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco will play Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, then face Haiti in Atlanta. Brazilian star Neymar, who recovered from the tear in his right calf, did not dress for the match.
An hour before the game, the price of an Uber from Times Square to the stadium where next month’s final will be played rose to $126.95 from $83.95 pre-booked for the same time on Sunday.
Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s first foreign World Cup coach, donned a three-piece suit and tie for the 6 p.m. start on a sunny afternoon when the temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius).
Morocco took the lead when Lucas Paqueta lost control of Roger Ibanez’s short pass and brought down Bilal El Khannouss. The ball bounced to Noussair Mazraoui, who passed the ball to Brahim Diaz in midfield.
His through pass split Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinho and Saibari ran to the ball at the top of the arc. Alisson Becker was slow to get off his line and Saibari slotted the ball over the Brazil goalkeeper to score his 10th international goal.
