Brazil were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday after Vinicius Junior scored a crucial equaliser.
Morocco made a confident start and took the lead in the 21st minute through Ismael Saibari. The midfielder raced onto a well-timed pass before calmly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The African side continued to threaten and looked comfortable against a Brazil team that struggled to find its rhythm during the opening stages of the match.
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However, Brazil responded before the break through Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid forward picked up the ball inside the penalty area, cut onto his right foot and fired a powerful shot into the far corner to level the score.
The goal gave Brazil renewed confidence, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side pushed forward in search of a winner during the second half.
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced several important saves to deny Brazil, including efforts from Igor Thiago, Raphinha and Danilo.
Despite Brazil’s pressure, Morocco nearly snatched victory late in the game when Neil El Aynaoui tested Alisson from distance, forcing the goalkeeper into a sharp save before blocking the rebound.
The result leaves both teams with a point from their opening Group C fixture.
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Brazil will now turn their attention to their next match against Haiti, while Morocco prepare to face Scotland as the battle for qualification continues.
written by @enock katamba
- Enock Katamba is a Ugandan Journalist and Founder of Uncovered UG, an independent digital news platform covering Uganda and international developments. He reports on politics, national affairs, entertainment, sports, business, education and other stories of public interest.
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