Morocco came within touching distance of one of the biggest victories in their football history before Vinicius Junior rescued Brazil in a 1-1 draw in the teams’ opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New Jersey.
The African champions produced a fearless display against the five-time world champions and were rewarded in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari punished a defensive misunderstanding between Alisson Becker and his defenders to give Morocco a deserved lead.
Saibari’s composed finish not only put Morocco ahead but also marked the first time the North African nation had scored against South American opposition at a World Cup.
Morocco continued to dictate proceedings for much of the first half, unsettling a Brazil side that struggled to find its rhythm under the intense pressure applied by Mohamed Ouahbi’s men.
Despite their dominance, Morocco were unable to build on their advantage and were punished when Vinicius produced a moment of quality in the 32nd minute. The Real Madrid forward collected a pass from Bruno Guimaraes, cut inside and fired an unstoppable effort beyond goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to level the score.
Brazil nearly completed the turnaround before the break through Lucas Paqueta, but Bounou reacted sharply to deny the midfielder.
The second half saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side improve, though Morocco remained organised and disciplined at the back. Neither team created many clear opportunities, with Raphinha coming closest to snatching a winner for Brazil after narrowly missing a low cross from Guimaraes.
While Morocco will be disappointed not to have converted their impressive performance into a famous victory, the draw sends a strong message about their ambitions at the tournament.
For Brazil, the result extends a remarkable unbeaten run in opening World Cup matches that dates back to 1934. However, the Selecao were far from convincing and needed the brilliance of Vinicius to avoid a shock defeat.
The result leaves both teams with a point to begin their campaigns, with Morocco set to face Scotland on June 19 and Brazil taking on Haiti a day later.
