The stadium was awash in yellow, but it was Morocco in red who broke the silence first. Brazil avoided defeat thanks to a brilliant equalizer from Vinícius Júnior.
Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of Group C at the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup on June 14 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Morocco took the lead in the 21st minute with a goal from Ismaël Saïbari, but Brazil equalized in the 32nd minute through Vinícius Júnior.
The opening goal came from Morocco's quick transition. In the 21st minute, Brahim Díaz threaded a pass into the space behind Brazil's defense, allowing Saïbari to calmly finish against goalkeeper Alisson. The Brazilian defense was caught off guard, showcasing Morocco's prepared pressing and counterattacking strategy early in the match.
Brazil responded quickly. In the 32nd minute, Vinícius received the ball on the left flank, drove into the box, and struck a powerful shot that found the net. After a connection with Bruno Guimarães, Morocco's defense momentarily lost track of Vinícius, allowing Brazil to regain momentum with individual skill.
The second half unfolded more cautiously than the first. Brazil pushed forward to seize control, but Morocco lowered its defensive block and maintained its spacing to withstand the pressure.
In the closing moments, both teams had chances to secure all three points. Brazil applied pressure with consecutive corner kicks during stoppage time, while Morocco threatened Brazil's goal with a shot from Neil El Aynaoui in the dying moments. Alisson made a diving save, and the ensuing scramble was cleared, resulting in a final score of 1-1.
With this draw, both Brazil and Morocco start the tournament with one point each. The teams will continue their group stage schedules against Haiti and Scotland, respectively.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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