Saibari strikes, Vinícius replies: Brazil and Morocco draw in Group C opener

This was the match that kicked off Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup. The most successful club manager in history sat on a World Cup bench for the very first time, and it was wearing the yellow and green. Facing him at MetLife Stadium, nearly 83,000 people — and Morocco, semifinalist in 2022. It ended in a draw, and a fair one.

Saibari opened the scoring at 21 minutes, after a quick move stitched together by Brahim Díaz. Eleven minutes later, Vinícius Júnior received the ball on the left, cut inside and sent it into the far corner. Case closed: 1–1, and both sides still alive in Group C.

Their only previous World Cup meeting

Brazil and Morocco had crossed paths at a World Cup only once: 1998, in Bordeaux, at the group stage. That afternoon it ended Brazil 3, Morocco 0, with goals from Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto. Twenty-eight years later, the scenery is different: today's Morocco is no longer a bit player — it's a side that reached the semifinal in Qatar.

Head-to-head between the teams

The Ancelotti era begins

Ancelotti took over the national team in 2024 with the mission of bringing Brazil another World Cup after the longest wait since the fifth title. In 2026, he has a 25-year-old Vinícius Júnior at his peak, Matheus Cunha as a partner up front and a new generation — Endrick and Estevão — fighting for space. The debut was cautious but competitive.

Morocco at World Cups: from debut to semifinal

Brazilian standouts

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) was the man of the match — the equaliser had the classic cut inside and finish into the far corner, exactly the kind of move he drills constantly. Raphinha (Barcelona) created the most danger even without scoring, and Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle) held the midfield against opponents who arrived with the pedigree of a World Cup semifinalist.

Moroccan standouts

Sofiane Saibari (PSV Eindhoven) scored; Brahim Díaz (AC Milan) built the move — the run between the lines and the pass at the right moment forced the Brazilian defense to open up. And Achraf Hakimi (PSG), the most valuable player in the Moroccan squad (€80 million on Transfermarkt), again showed why he's considered one of the best full-backs in the world.

Match sheet

• 21' — Sofiane Saibari (MAR), assist by Brahim Díaz
• 32' — Vinícius Júnior (BRA), cut inside and finish into the far corner
• Possession: 51% – 49% | Shots: 12 – 14 | Shots on target: 5 – 3 | xG: 1.26 – 1.37

Morocco had more of the ball; Brazil created higher-quality chances. The draw was honest — and both teams left MetLife with a point and the certainty that Group C would keep producing storylines all the way to the final matchday.