Record five-time world champions Brazil will aim to begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C campaign with a victory when they take on African heavyweights Morocco on Saturday. The contest brings together two of the world’s top-10 ranked teams, with Brazil sitting sixth in the rankings and Morocco occupying eighth position.
Located in the New Jersey Meadowlands, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford is set to stage one of the opening fixtures in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match features the most successful nation in World Cup history, Brazil, against Morocco, the first African country ever to reach a World Cup semi-final.
Brazil may own five World Cup titles, but their most recent triumph came in 2002, meaning supporters are eager to see the long wait for another championship come to an end. The Selecao endured a difficult qualifying campaign, finishing fifth in the CONMEBOL standings, although history suggests Brazil often raise their level when the World Cup begins.
Morocco stunned the football world with their remarkable run to the semi-finals in 2022 and are now participating in their third consecutive World Cup. They are also the reigning African champions after eventually being awarded the AFCON title following a successful appeal. The question is whether they can once again shock one of football’s giants and reinforce their growing status on the international stage.
Brazil arrive at the tournament under the leadership of former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has opted for an experienced squad. Among the notable selections is Neymar, recalled to the national team for the first time since October 2023.
Despite being five-time world champions, Brazil have reached only one World Cup semi-final since lifting the trophy in 2002. That appearance ended in a devastating 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil. Expectations are always immense for the Selecao, and with the tournament returning to the Americas, the pressure has only intensified.
Brazil demonstrated impressive attacking quality in their pre-tournament friendlies, thrashing Panama 6-2 before securing a harder-fought 2-1 victory over Egypt.
Walid Regragui guided Morocco to history in Qatar 2022, becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final after victories over Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. The current squad is arguably even stronger, yet uncertainty surrounds the team as they head to North America.
Morocco were eventually crowned African champions despite losing the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal, after Senegal were stripped of the title following controversy surrounding their protest over officiating decisions in the final.
The Atlas Lions have since undergone a managerial change, with Regragui surprisingly replaced by former U-20 coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
In their World Cup preparations, Morocco began with a 5-0 victory over Burundi before defeating Madagascar 4-0. They then produced an impressive first-half display against Norway before settling for a 1-1 draw with the Scandinavian side.
Midfielder Ederson, who is expected to join Manchester United later this summer, received a late call-up to the Brazil squad after Wesley suffered an injury.
Neymar is also not believed to be fully fit after arriving in camp carrying a muscular problem.
For Morocco, captain Achraf Hakimi was dealing with an injury when initially selected but has since recovered and is expected to start.
However, Morocco suffered a setback when Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli withdrew from the squad through injury. Angers winger Amine Sbaï and Al Fateh defender Marwane Saadane were called up as replacements.
Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui is managing a shoulder issue but is still expected to feature.
Former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech was a surprise omission from the squad, while promising youngster Bilal El Khannouss is tipped to play a key role in his absence.
The biggest decision made by Carlo Ancelotti during squad selection was the inclusion of Neymar. Soon afterward, reports suggested that the veteran forward would miss at least the opening two matches, and Ancelotti has since confirmed he will not be available for the opener.
Brazil were also forced into a late squad change after Wesley’s injury, with Atalanta midfielder Ederson replacing the Roma defender. While there had been speculation about a 4-2-4 setup, Ancelotti now appears more likely to deploy either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lucas Paqueta supporting Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield.
Matheus Cunha is expected to edge out Endrick and Igor Thiago for the striker role, while Alex Sandro remains slightly ahead of the in-form Douglas Santos at left-back.
Ancelotti faces fresh injury concerns ahead of Brazil’s tournament opener. Neymar remains unavailable, while Ederson was drafted in as Wesley’s replacement.
Alisson Becker is expected to start in goal, with Brazil lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The defense should consist of Ederson, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Alex Sandro. Ederson has reportedly been training as a right-back since joining the squad.
In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes is likely to partner Casemiro in the double pivot. Lucas Paqueta should operate as the attacking midfielder, with Vinicius Junior and Raphinha providing width. Matheus Cunha is expected to lead the attack, leaving Endrick, Igor Thiago, and Rayan among the attacking options on the bench.
The absence of Neymar due to a calf injury remains the biggest story surrounding the Brazil camp. Meanwhile, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, and Estêvão had already been ruled out before the tournament due to injuries.
Morocco have suffered a significant double blow ahead of the tournament, with Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd and Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli both withdrawing through injury.
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui also left the friendly against Norway with a suspected shoulder dislocation, although he has since resumed training. Mohamed Ouahbi stated that “overall, he is fine,” with a final decision expected after training.
Like his Brazilian counterpart, Ouahbi faces several selection concerns ahead of the trip to MetLife Stadium.
Aguerd (groin) and Abde (knee) have been replaced by Marwane Saadane and Amine Sbai. Additionally, Anass Salah-Eddine, Chemsdine Talbi, and Mazraoui have all been managing minor fitness issues.
Yassine Bounou is expected to start in goal as Morocco line up in a 4-3-3 system. The defense should feature Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, and Mazraoui. If Mazraoui is unavailable, Youssef Belammari is expected to fill the left-back role.
In midfield, Neil El Aynaoui will anchor the side alongside Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi. Up front, Ismael Saibari is expected to spearhead the attack, supported by Bilal El Khannouss and Brahim Diaz.
Ouahbi’s side have been further affected by the tournament-ending absences of Aguerd and Ezzalzouli, while Salah-Eddine, Talbi, and Mazraoui remain injury concerns.
This will be the second World Cup meeting between Brazil and Morocco. Their previous encounter came at France 1998, when Brazil secured a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Bebeto.
The two nations have met only a limited number of times over the years. Their most recent meeting, a friendly in March 2023, ended in a 2-1 victory for Morocco and served as a statement result for the Atlas Lions.
Before that success, Brazil generally enjoyed the upper hand in meetings between the sides, although the footballing landscape has evolved considerably in recent years.
Morocco’s run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup remains the defining achievement in the nation’s history. The Atlas Lions defeated Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds after also overcoming Belgium during the group stage. They eventually lost narrowly to France before finishing third overall.
Brazil, meanwhile, entered this tournament still carrying the disappointment of their quarter-final exit in Qatar, where they were eliminated by Croatia on penalties. The burden of a 24-year wait for another World Cup title continues to hang over a talented generation.
Location: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA
Stadium: New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
Date: Saturday, June 13 [Sunday, June 14 IST]
Kick-off time: 10 p.m. BST [3:30 a.m. IST, Sunday, June 14 / 6 p.m. ET, Saturday, June 13/ 8 a.m. AEST, Sunday]
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
The match will be available on BBC One in the UK, Fox Sports in the U.S., Zee5 in India and SBS in Australia.
India: Unite8 Sports Channels, ZEE5
UK: BBC & ITV
USA: FOX Sports
Nigeria: DStv, GOtv
Brazil squad: Alisson Becker, Ederson, Weverton, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gleison Bremer, Leo Pereira, Roger Ibanez, Wesley Franca, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabinho, Danilo, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar, Endrick, Rayan, Igor Thiago
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).
Morocco squad: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajou, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Chadi Riad, Issa Diop, Anass Salah-Eddine, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Redouane Halhal, Youssef Belammari, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari, Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Gessime Yassine, Brahim Díaz, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abde Ezzalzouli, Soufiane Rahimi, Chemsdine Talbi, Ayoube Amaimouni
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Munir El Kajou (Renaissance Berkane), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR)
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Issa Diop (Fulham), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Zakaria El Ouahdi (KRC Genk), Redouane Halhal (Mechelen), Youssef Belammari (Al-Ahly)
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona FC), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille LOSC), Gessime Yassine (Strasbourg)
Forwards: Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain SC), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Brazil Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Guimaraes; Raphinha, Paqueta, Vinicius; Cunha
Unavailable: Neymar (Injured)
Questionable:
Morocco Predicted XI (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Ounahi, Bouaddi; Saibari, El Kaabi, Diaz
Unavailable:
Questionable: Mazraoui (Injured)
Brazil enter the tournament with lofty ambitions and genuine hopes of lifting the World Cup trophy. Although they face their toughest group-stage opponent immediately, the Selecao will be determined to begin with a statement victory.
Convincing wins over Panama and Egypt have boosted confidence, while Morocco arrive after a draw with Norway and victories over Madagascar and Burundi.
Brazil are perennial contenders whenever a World Cup begins, although they are not viewed among the very top favorites this time around. There remains uncertainty surrounding the squad, but, as always, they possess exceptional individual flair and attacking talent.
Morocco will be eager to replicate the magic of their 2022 campaign and have shown enough attacking quality to trouble any opponent. Mohamed Ouahbi has played a significant role in the development of Moroccan football, guiding the nation to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup title.
The Atlas Lions possess a talented squad and have already demonstrated they can compete with elite teams. This opening fixture provides another opportunity to reinforce that reputation. Brazil, meanwhile, have yet to fully convince under Ancelotti, and their struggles extend beyond his appointment, as evidenced by their fifth-place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying.
The last meeting between the sides ended in a Moroccan victory, and this contest is likely to be much more balanced than many observers might expect. Both teams finding the net appears a realistic possibility.
Looking at recent form and squad depth, a closely fought encounter is expected. Morocco’s left side appears vulnerable following Ezzalzouli’s injury, while Brazil have experienced their own defensive inconsistencies.
Brazil remain deserved favorites thanks to the quality available throughout Ancelotti’s squad. Vinicius Junior and Raphinha are among the most dangerous wide players at the tournament, while the midfield partnership of Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes provides stability and control.
That said, Morocco are more than capable of causing problems. They defeated Brazil as recently as 2023, and their organization, Hakimi’s attacking influence, and Brahim Diaz’s creativity make them genuine upset candidates.
The absences of Aguerd and Ezzalzouli are significant setbacks, while the managerial transition introduces an element of uncertainty. Even so, the quality and competitive mentality within the squad remain unquestionable.
This feels like a match that could stay finely balanced for long periods before Brazil’s superior individual quality eventually proves decisive. A Brazil victory remains the most likely outcome, but Morocco should provide a stern challenge and could push the contest deep into the latter stages before the outcome is settled.
The year 2026 has become especially significant for astronomers and skywatchers, with four eclipses scheduled… Read More
Qatar will be aiming to secure their first-ever World Cup victory when they face Group… Read More
It has been 115 days since the Seattle Seahawks captured the Super Bowl title. Fortunately… Read More
In an effort to promote awareness of India’s rich cultural legacy and traditional knowledge systems,… Read More
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on home turf for the United States as they… Read More
FIFA World Cup 2026 co-host Canada will begin their tournament journey against Bosnia and Herzegovina… Read More
