World Cup 2026: Vinicius Jr Rescues Brazil in 1-1 Draw with Morocco

Saibari struck first, Vinicius answered: 1-1 in Jersey

Brazil and Morocco opened their World Cup 2026 Group C campaign with a 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, played out on a clear day with the temperature reading 30°C. Slovenia's Slavko Vincic took charge of a tight, even contest that the underlying numbers back up almost perfectly.

Morocco edged the expected goals battle 1.37 to 1.26 — that's expected goals, a measure of shot quality — and created two big chances to Brazil's one. Possession was effectively level at 51% for Brazil and 49% for Morocco, and the passing totals tell the same story: 514 total passes for Brazil against 486 for Morocco. Where the two sides differed was in their route to goal. Brazil were busier inside the box, registering nine shots within the penalty area, while Morocco took seven of their efforts from outside it. Brazil landed five shots on target to Morocco's three, but Morocco keeper drew four saves out of his opposite number. On a day where both teams looked dangerous and neither could pull clear, a share of the spoils felt about right.

Who Ancelotti and Morocco sent out at MetLife

From Saibari's opener to Vinicius's lightning bolt

Morocco landed the first blow in the 21st minute, when Ismael Saibari finished off a move set up by Brahim Diaz to put his side ahead. Brazil didn't stay behind for long. In the 32nd minute, Vinicius Junior produced the moment of the match — an equaliser assisted by Bruno Guimaraes that levelled the scoreline at 1-1.

The closing stretch of the first half got chippy for Brazil, with Casemiro booked in the 37th minute and Ibanez picking up a yellow card in the 43rd. Carlo Ancelotti reacted at the break, sending on Danilo and Fabinho as Ibanez and Casemiro made way at the start of the second half.

From there it became a game of fine margins and rotation. Brazil refreshed the attack just after the hour, with Lucas Paqueta and Luiz Henrique introduced for M. Cunha and I. Thiago. Morocco responded with a triple wave of changes through the second half — C. Talbi and S. El Mourabet around the 65th minute, then A. Salah-Eddine and A. Amaimouni on the 80th — while Brazil brought Bruno Guimaraes on for Danilo Santos at the same time. Saibari, the man who opened the scoring, was withdrawn in the 89th minute for S. Rahimi. Despite all the movement, neither side found a winner.

The model favoured Brazil — the scoreboard didn't agree

There wasn't a clear lean from the futbol.so community to report on this one, so the best guide we have is the official forecast. That model made Brazil the favourite, giving the Selecao a clear edge to win, with the draw as the second most likely outcome and a Morocco win the long shot.

Reality split the difference. The most probable single result was a Brazil victory, but the draw — the second-likeliest scenario in the model — is exactly what landed. Given how evenly the expected goals and possession numbers came out, the 1-1 result looks less like an upset and more like the honest reflection of an even contest. The favourites tag held in spirit, even if the three points didn't.

Video highlights

HIGHLIGHTS - Brazil v Morocco | Two Evenly Matched Sides! | FIFA World Cup 2026

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VINICIUS risponde a SAIBARI, stop ANCELOTTI: Brasile-Marocco 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN Highlights

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Highlights | Brazil 1-1 Morocco | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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World Cup: Brazil vs Morocco

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World Cup: Brazil vs Morocco

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FIFA WC 2026 | Brazil - Morocco 1:1 | Group C | 1. kolo

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Both teams walk away from MetLife with a point apiece to start their World Cup 2026, and the standings already make for tidy reading in Group C: after three matches, Brazil sit top and Morocco second, with both sides confirmed through to the Round of 32. Vinicius Junior's strike will dominate the highlight reels, but Morocco's polish — and Saibari's early finish — proved they belong in this conversation.

With qualification secured for both, attention now turns to seeding and momentum heading into the knockout rounds.