Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Brazil in their opening Group C match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday, in a contest that showed Mohamed Ouahbi’s side are more than capable of troubling the very best teams in the world.
Before a crowd of 80,663, Morocco took the game to Brazil from the first whistle, pressing high and denying the five-time world champions the time and space to settle into their rhythm. It was a bold and organised performance that left Carlo Ancelotti’s side looking vulnerable for long periods.
The Atlas Lions took a deserved lead in the 21st minute. Bilal Díaz, sharp and direct on the left, slid a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Ismael Saibari, who had made a clever run in behind the Brazil defence. Saibari took one touch to set himself before finishing calmly past Alisson to give Morocco a lead that their opening spell had fully merited.
At the heart of Morocco’s dominance was 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, who produced a performance that belied his age entirely. Playing in the centre of midfield on the grandest stage in world football, Bouaddi was assured, energetic and technically excellent — constantly demanding the ball, breaking up Brazilian attacks and driving his side forward with a confidence that left many wondering how long it would be before Europe’s biggest clubs came calling.
His display was all the more remarkable given that he effectively outshone Casemiro, one of the most decorated and experienced midfielders in the world, who struggled to impose himself on the contest and was replaced at half-time.
Brazil were rattled. Their passing was loose, their movement disjointed and their press easily bypassed by a Morocco side that had clearly done their homework.
Ancelotti made changes at the interval, withdrawing the ineffective Casemiro in an attempt to restore control, but it was individual quality rather than tactical adjustment that ultimately rescued his side.
The equaliser arrived in the 32nd minute and it was, in truth, the one moment of the first half that belonged entirely to Brazil. Vinícius Júnior, largely anonymous until that point, exchanged passes with Bruno Guimarães wide on the left, shifted the ball onto his right foot to create the angle and drove a precise angled finish past the outstretched hand of Yassine Bounou. It was his tenth international goal, his third scored on American soil.
The second half was a more cautious affair. Morocco sat a little deeper and looked to counter, while Brazil struggled to unlock a well-organised Atlas Lions rearguard. Ancelotti’s men had the lion’s share of possession but created little of genuine quality, and it was Morocco who came closest to winning it late on. Alisson twice denied the Atlas Lions in stoppage time with saves that kept Brazil’s unbeaten run in World Cup openers intact — a run stretching back to 1934.
Vinícius was candid after the final whistle, acknowledging that Brazil had started poorly, that conceding the first goal had made things difficult and that considerable improvement would be needed as the tournament progressed. Brazil were also without Neymar, still recovering from a calf injury, and his absence was felt in moments when creativity was needed most.
For Morocco, the mood was one of quiet confidence mixed with a tinge of frustration. A point against Brazil is a respectable return, but the manner of the performance suggested Ouahbi’s side were capable of more. Morocco captured global attention four years ago in Qatar by becoming the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals, and on this evidence they carry genuine ambitions of going deep into the tournament once again.
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Group C remains wide open after Scotland claimed three points with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Haiti in Boston, where John McGinn’s deflected strike in the 28th minute was enough to send Steve Clarke’s side top of the group after the opening round of fixtures. It was Scotland’s first World Cup goal in 28 years.
Morocco face Scotland in Foxborough on 19 June before concluding their group stage against Haiti in Atlanta. Brazil take on Haiti in Philadelphia before a final group match against Scotland in Miami Gardens.
