Carlo Ancelotti faced a challenging debut as Brazil’s coach during their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, held against Morocco. After Ismael Saibari’s stunning goal put Brazil at a disadvantage, Vinícius Júnior stepped up to secure a vital equalizer, preventing what could have been a humiliating start for the five-time champions.
In a captivating first half, Brazil struggled to maintain possession as Morocco’s midfield, led by the impressive Ayyoub Bouaddi, dominated play. Fans filled the New Jersey stadium, adorned in yellow and red, anticipating a thrilling encounter. Despite criticisms of his international performance, Júnior provided a moment of joy for Brazil supporters with his equalizing goal.
This marked Júnior’s 10th goal in 50 appearances for the national team. With Neymar sidelined due to a calf injury, Ancelotti is aware that Brazil’s hopes for a sixth title heavily rely on Júnior’s contributions. While Brazil boasts remarkable talent, weaknesses in certain areas were apparent, and Morocco capitalized, nearly clinching victory late in the match after a mistake from Alisson. Adjustments in the second half saw Brazil perform better, but Ancelotti recognizes the need for improvement.
“We need to improve,”
was Ancelotti’s candid evaluation. “This was a tough match especially in the beginning. The team was a bit anxious, nerves were all over the place. I think we have to reassess what we did in this match. But we can’t lose heart – you don’t win a World Cup based on your first match.”
Mohamed Ouahbi took over as Morocco’s head coach in March, following their Under-20 World Cup victory. He aims to replicate that success with the senior squad after their remarkable journey to the semi-finals in 2022. Bouaddi, who recently chose to represent Morocco over France, displayed maturity beyond his 18 years and earned just his fourth cap.
“The players are disappointed because they wanted to win,”
said Ouahbi. “In the second half, the rhythm dropped but that is understandable against a team of this quality,”
Since their exit from the last World Cup, Brazil has called up over 90 players, although Ancelotti’s selections have been steadier during his tenure. The decision to place Roger Ibañez at right-back raised some eyebrows, given his usual role in central defense. Morocco targeted him effectively from the start.
Noussair Mazraoui advanced from left-back, and Neil El Aynaoui’s shot was blocked as Morocco wasted no time attacking. Brazil struggled to find their rhythm until Júnior created space on the left, passing to Igor Thiago, who unfortunately mis-timed his header.
Ancelotti stood on the sidelines under the sweltering New Jersey sun, and his concerns were confirmed when Brahim Díaz delivered a brilliant pass to Saibari, who deftly lobbed the ball over the stranded Alisson. It was a deserved lead for Morocco.
Had Achraf Hakimi opted to pass to Díaz instead of attempting a shot during the next move, Brazil’s troubles could have escalated. However, Vinícius responded when he received a pass from Guimarães near the byline and struck past Yassine Bounou from a tight angle, bringing relief to the Brazilian supporters.
Bounou showcased his skills again, stretching to deflect Lucas Paquetá’s volley right before halftime. With both Casemiro and Ibañez receiving yellow cards, Ancelotti made changes at halftime, bringing on Fabinho and Danilo to implement a more structured system, which pushed Morocco back.
As the match progressed, Ancelotti introduced Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha for the final half hour, but Morocco continued to thwart Brazil’s attempts. A triple substitution indicated Ouahbi might settle for a draw, while Brazil pushed harder in the closing minutes. Their best chance to secure a late victory fell to substitute Luis Henrique, but Bounou’s performance kept the score level, showing that international management presents its own set of challenges.
