Brazil and Morocco open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns on 13 June at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Group C also containing Haiti and Scotland. Brazil come as five time winners chasing a sixth title after a chaotic qualification campaign, while Morocco look to build on that extraordinary run to the 2022 semi finals and their AFCON 2025 triumph.
Carlo Ancelotti took charge of Brazil in May 2025 following Dorival Júnior's dismissal and has since extended his contract through 2030, becoming the first foreign coach to lead the Seleção at a World Cup. His preference for structured build up and squad cohesion contrasts sharply with Morocco's Mohamed Ouahbi, appointed only in March 2026 after Walid Regragui resigned. Ouahbi came up through Morocco's youth system and this is his first senior national team job. Ancelotti has managed six World Cups across four different countries, Ouahbi has managed zero senior internationals and that gap will be felt in a tournament opener.
Brazil's form under Ancelotti has been patchy but improving. The 6-2 thrashing of Panama and a 2-1 win over Egypt are encouraging, though earlier setbacks against Argentina, Japan and Bolivia are a reminder that this is still a side searching for consistency, particularly at the back when Ancelotti rotates. Morocco arrive in considerably better shape, having gone unbeaten through CAF qualifying and finishing their warm up schedule with a 1-1 draw against Norway plus comfortable wins over Madagascar, Burundi and Paraguay. They concede sparingly and defend as a unit rather than relying on individuals to bail them out.
Neither side carries suspensions going into this but both have been hit by injuries in the build up. Brazil are without Neymar (grade 2 calf), Rodrygo, Estêvão, Éder Militão and Wesley. Gabriel is expected back after missing warm up games and Ancelotti is likely to set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 with Alisson in goal, Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel and Alex Sandro across the back, Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães anchoring midfield and Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá and Vinícius Jr supporting Matheus Cunha up front. Morocco are missing Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli, with doubts over Noussair Mazraoui. If Mazraoui is fit, their expected 4-2-3-1 lines up as: Bounou, Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui, Amrabat, Ounahi, Díaz, Saibari, Ben Seghir, En-Nesyri.
Tactically, Ancelotti's Brazil build from the back with Raphinha and Vinícius driving at full backs and looking to combine with Paquetá between the lines, while the double pivot of Casemiro and Guimarães provides the platform. Morocco will sit compact in their 4-2-3-1 and look to exploit set pieces in particular. Aguerd's absence weakens a unit that thrived on his aerial presence, though Morocco were still among the tournament's sharpest at dead balls in 2022 and that has not changed. Hakimi against Vinícius and Raphinha on Brazil's left is the most watchable individual contest on the pitch and Bounou's handling of Brazil's shooting volume could prove decisive if it stays tight.
Senior meetings between these two are few and mostly historical friendlies, so 2022 is the only reference point that matters. Morocco became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi final by sitting in a disciplined low block with Amrabat operating as a spare man in front of the back four, pressing selectively and punishing transitions through Hakimi's ability to carry the ball 60 yards at pace. Brazil have historically fared well against African opposition at this tournament but that semi final run made clear that historical record counts for very little once you are on the pitch.
Morocco's set piece threat will trouble a Brazil back line already missing Militão and the MetLife Stadium surface combined with New Jersey's humid June conditions could work against Brazil's patient build up play, giving Hakimi and Morocco more room on the break.
Brazil losing Neymar, Rodrygo, Estêvão, Militão and Wesley blunts their cutting edge considerably and Morocco conceded only twice across the entire CAF qualifying campaign. Vinícius remains the one player in this fixture capable of winning it individually and a scrappy goal from him or a Hakimi moment on the break feels like the most plausible script. The score ends 1-1, with both teams leaving New Jersey with more questions than answers.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
