Five-time champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in one of the standout fixtures of the opening round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Morocco took the lead through Ismael Saibari before VinÃcius Júnior produced a moment of brilliance to restore parity for Brazil. While both teams pushed for a winner, neither side could find a breakthrough after the interval, leaving Group C finely poised after the opening round of matches.
Follow the key moments from the match below.
21st Minute: GOAL! Morocco take the lead through Ismael Saibari. The midfielder latches onto a superb through ball from Brahim DÃaz, beats Gabriel in the race to the pass and keeps his composure as Alisson rushes off his line. Saibari then delicately chips the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net to hand Morocco a deserved lead.
It's a beautiful finish and also the first goal scored from outside the box at the tournament.
Brazil 0-1 Morocco
32nd Minute: GOAL! Brazil are back on level terms and it is their star man VinÃcius Júnior who delivers the response.
The Real Madrid forward receives possession on the left of the box before cutting in onto his right foot. With Morocco's defence backing off, VinÃcius creates just enough space to unleash a trademark curling effort that flies into the top-right corner, leaving Yassine Bounou with no chance.
It is a moment of individual brilliance from the Brazilian winger and exactly the response Carlo Ancelotti's side needed after falling behind to Ismael Saibari's opener.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
37th Minute: Yellow Card - Casemiro: The first booking of the contest goes to Brazil, with Casemiro entering the referee's notebook after getting caught out of position by the pace of Neil El Aynaoui and putting in a late challenge.
41st Minute: Yellow Card - Roger Ibañez: Brazil defender Roger Ibañez becomes the second player to be booked after bringing down Brahim DÃaz during a Moroccan attack. It has been a difficult first half for the centre-back, who has already been tested repeatedly by Morocco's movement and pace.
45+3 Minutes - Paquetá Goes Close: Brazil nearly take the lead on the stroke of half-time. VinÃcius delivers a dangerous low cross from the left, finding Lucas Paquetá inside the penalty area. The midfielder attempts an acrobatic scissor-kick, but Yassine Bounou reacts sharply to push the effort away for a corner.
Brazil threaten again from the resulting set-piece, with Marquinhos directing a glancing header towards goal, but the ball drifts wide and out for a goal kick.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Half-Time: Brazil 1-1 Morocco - The opening half in East Rutherford has delivered plenty of entertainment, with Brazil and Morocco locked at 1-1 at the break.
Morocco were the better side for much of the first half and took a deserved lead through Ismael Saibari, but Brazil responded through a moment of brilliance from VinÃcius Júnior, whose curling strike restored parity.
Despite both teams showing plenty of attacking intent, the match remains finely balanced heading into the second half.
Second Half Gets Underway: The action resumes at MetLife Stadium with Brazil getting the second half started. Carlo Ancelotti has made two changes at the break, bringing on Danilo for the booked Roger Ibañez and Fabinho in place of Casemiro.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
62nd Minute: Double Change For Brazil: Carlo Ancelotti turns to his bench once again as Brazil look for a breakthrough. Matheus Cunha replaces Igor Thiago, while Luiz Henrique comes on for Lucas Paquetá. The changes appear to signal a more attacking approach from the five-time champions, with Raphinha expected to operate in a more central role alongside Brazil's array of forward options.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
65th Minute: Morocco Make Changes As Fabinho Receives Treatment: Morocco make their first changes of the evening as the game pauses briefly for Fabinho to receive treatment, with the Brazil midfielder bleeding after taking a blow to the mouth.
With Fabinho temporarily off the field, the Atlas Lions introduce fresh legs. Chemsdine Talbi replaces Brahim DÃaz, while Samir El Mourabet comes on for Azzedine Ounahi as Morocco look to maintain their intensity in the final third.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
78th Minute - Raphinha Chance: Brazil come close to taking the lead after a swift counter-attack down the left flank. VinÃcius Júnior drives towards the byline before cutting the ball back into the path of the onrushing Raphinha. The Barcelona winger opts to strike first time, but his effort is directed straight at Yassine Bounou, who makes a comfortable save. It is a promising opportunity for Brazil, but one they are unable to convert.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
80th Minute - Changes For Both Teams: With the match entering its closing stages, both managers turn to their benches in search of fresh energy.
Brazil make a midfield change, with Danilo Santos replacing Bruno Guimarães. Morocco respond with a double substitution of their own, introducing Ayoube Amaimouni for Bilal El Khannouss and Anass Salah-Eddine for Noussair Mazraoui.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
84th Minute - Bounou To The Rescue: Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou comes to his side's rescue after a dangerous mix-up at the back. Issa Diop attempts to play the ball back from near the halfway line without spotting the advancing Raphinha, who races in and looks poised to pounce. Alert to the danger, Bounou charges off his line and reaches the ball just in time to clear it away. In the process, the goalkeeper takes a knock to his upper arm following an accidental collision with Raphinha and requires brief treatment before play can continue.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
89th Minute: Morocco Make Final Change: Morocco make a late substitution as they look to see out the closing stages of the match. Goalscorer Ismael Saibari is withdrawn and replaced by Soufiane Rahimi, adding fresh legs for the final minutes.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
90th Minute - Ten Minutes Added On: We are set for a dramatic finish at MetLife Stadium, with the fourth official signalling 10 minutes of added time at the end of the second half.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
90+9 Minutes - Double Save From Alisson: Brazil goalkeeper Alisson produces a crucial intervention deep into stoppage time to deny Morocco a dramatic winner. Neil El Aynaoui unleashes a long-range effort that forces Alisson into action, and the Brazilian shot-stopper reacts sharply again to keep out the rebound. It is a vital double save from the Liverpool goalkeeper as Brazil survive a late scare.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Full-Time: Brazil 1-1 Morocco
The points are shared at MetLife Stadium after an entertaining FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C opener ends all square.
The match burst into life in the first half, with Ismael Saibari giving Morocco a deserved lead before VinÃcius Júnior responded with a superb curling strike to level the scores. While both teams had moments after the break, clear-cut chances proved harder to come by as the contest settled into a more cautious rhythm.
Morocco will be pleased with their disciplined display against one of the tournament favourites, while Brazil may feel they lacked the cutting edge needed to turn possession into a winning goal.
In the end, both sides begin their World Cup campaigns with a point, leaving Group C finely poised heading into the next round of fixtures.
Brazil vs Morocco Team Line-ups:
Brazil Starting XI: Alisson; Roger Ibañez, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães; Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá, VinÃcius Júnior; Igor Thiago.
Substitutes: Ederson (GK), Weverton, Bremer, Danilo, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, Ederson, Fabinho, Danilo Santos, Matheus Cunha, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, Rayan.
Morocco Starting XI: Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui; Brahim DÃaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Ismael Saibari.
Substitutes: Munir Mohamedi, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Nayef Aguerd, Youssef Belammari, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Redouane Halhal, Anass Salah-Eddine, Sofyan Amrabat, Samir El Mourabet, Chemsdine Talbi, Gessime Yassine, Ayoube Amaimouni, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abde Ezzalzouli, Soufiane Rahimi.
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