Brazil 1-1 Morocco, FIFA World Cup: Vinicius Magic Neutralises Saibari Beauty In Group C Thriller
Brazil vs Morocco Match Photos: In the first marquee clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Brazil and Morocco settled for a thrilling 1-1 draw at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday. Morocco, the historic 2022 semi-finalists, dictated early proceedings and stunned Carlo Ancelotti's Selecao in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari nonchalantly chipped the ball over a charging Alisson Becker following a precise through-ball from Brahim Diaz. However, the five-time champions hit back in the 32nd minute as Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior produced a moment of individual magic, cutting inside from the left flank and curling into the top corner past Yassine Bounou. Neither side could find a second even as a full-house crowd of 80,663 demanded more from the highly anticipated Group C match. Both sides will be in action on June 19, and they will look to pocket all possible points when Morocco face Scotland, and Brazil take on Haiti.
Picture of fans in the stands ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group C match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Spectators start to arrive to take their seats ahead of the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Morocco's players enter the pitch to warm up prior to the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
A Brazil fan celebrates before watching the World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Bruna Prado
Fans gather to watch the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Morocco during a public watch party in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
Morocco fans before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Fans wait for the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group C opener between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Neymar looks on before the FIFA World Cup 2026, Group C match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Brazil players pose before the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Yuki Iwanmura
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, right, talks with Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi prior to their World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Morocco players during the pregame ceremony before the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Yuki Iwanmura
Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi (6) heads the ball against Brazil's Lucas Paqueta (20) in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Brazil's Casemiro, left, challenges for the ball with Morocco's Neil El Aynaoui (24) during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Yuki Iwanmura
Morocco's Neil El Aynaoui, right, attempts a shot on goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Fans hold banners of legendary Brazilian players before the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Morocco's Ismael Saibari celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Brazil during the World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Morocco's Brahim Diaz, left, and teammates celebrate after Ismael Saibari scored the opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker, left, reacts after Morocco's Ismael Saibari scored the opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Morocco's Bilal El Khannouss, right, listens to his coach Mohamed Ouahbi during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) takes a corner kick in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7), second right, scores their first goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Brazil's Vinicius Junior, left, celebrates with Bruno Guimaraes after scoring his side's first goal against Morocco during the World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Pamela Smith
Morocco fans watch on large screens their national team's World Cup Group C soccer match C against Brazil, in Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco, Monday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo
Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) is congratulated after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes (8) cools down with a splash of water in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Workers position letters reading FIFA before the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Brazil in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Brazil goalkeeper Ederson (23) looks on at halftime during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Yuki Iwanmura
Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) battles for possession against Morocco's Achraf Hakimi (2) in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Fans gather at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami for a public watch party for the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco, in Miami, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
Brazil's fans celebrate Vinicius' goal while watching the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Morocco during a public watch party in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
A general view of the MetLife stadium during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Brazil's Marquinhos, left, and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi jump for the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Brazil's fans sing while watching the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Morocco during a public watch party in Central Park, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
A young Brazil fan celebrates after Brazil scored against Morocco during a World Cup match in a decorated neighborhood in Manaus, Brazil, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Edmar Barros
Fans celebrate a goal scored by Brazil against Morocco during a World Cup watch party at a housing occupation run by the Homeless Workers Movement, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini
Fans watch the World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco at a housing occupation run by the Homeless Workers Movement, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Yuki Iwanmura
Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes, right, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari fight for the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Morocco's Ismael Saibari, left, and Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes fall to the pitch after challenging for possession during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, left, grimaces in pain during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Petr David Josek
General view as the attendance is displayed on the video board during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. AP Photo/Yuki Iwanmura
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