If you tuned into Brazil’s World Cup opener expecting samba flair and dominance, you probably left MetLife Stadium scratching your head. The five-time champions stumbled out of the gate in Group C, settling for a 1-1 draw with Morocco in front of 80,663 fans in New York/New Jersey. For a team that hadn’t lost a World Cup opening match since 1934 — a streak of 21 games — this felt less like tradition and more like a warning shot.
Morocco struck first in the 21st minute, and they did it with the kind of clinical precision that usually belongs to Brazil. Brahim Diaz split the defense with a through ball, and Ismael Saibari raced onto it before chipping Alisson Becker. The African champions came out sharp, with Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi breaking up plays and pushing forward from deep, while Brazil looked like a side still searching for its rhythm.
Carlo Ancelotti didn’t sugarcoat the performance. “I think it was a tough match, especially in the first half,” the Brazil coach said. “Maybe the team was a bit anxious, and the nerves were all over the place. The second half was better, but it was still tough, and I’m sure we’ll get better.”
Brazil’s response came 11 minutes later, and it was vintage Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid winger linked up with Bruno Guimaraes on the left, used his close control to cut inside past defenders, and fired a right-footed rocket into the top corner past Yassine Bounou. It was his 10th international goal — and probably their most important one of the group stage so far.
Still, Vinicius didn’t pretend everything was fine. “We started on a really bad note,” he said through a translator. “For certain, we got to hold on to the ball. We have to move better.”
The first half had a few more fireworks. Lucas Paqueta tried an acrobatic effort that Bounou saved, and the goalkeeper also denied Raphinha from a cut-back. Alisson kept Brazil level just before halftime, blocking Neil El Aynaoui and then smothering Ayoube Amaimouni’s follow-up in stoppage time. The second half cooled off considerably, with both sides making multiple substitutions and the pace dropping.
Brazil also played without Neymar, who is still recovering from a torn right calf. His absence was felt — not just in the attack, but in the composure department. Ancelotti’s crew will need to clean things up quickly, because Haiti is next, and another slow start could turn a bad opening into a full-blown crisis.
For Morocco, the draw is a statement. Ranked seventh in the world and coming off a historic 2022 run, they proved they can go toe-to-toe with the giants. Brazil, meanwhile, has a lot of questions to answer before their next match.
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