Brazil vs Morocco Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
One of the standout matches in the first round of fixtures at FIFA World Cup 2026 comes at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey with Brazil taking on Morocco.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Brazil preview: Ancelotti’s Brazilians
Brazil come into this FIFA World Cup with former Real Madrid boss and serial winner Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, having relied upon experience in his squad selection, such as Neymar, who has been recalled to the Selecao squad for the first time since October 2023.
The five-time world champions have made it to just one FIFA World Cup semi-final since winning their fifth world title in 2002, and that ended in a 7-1 loss to Germany at home. There is always pressure on the Brazilians but with the global event back in the Americas, that will only be heightened.
The Brazilians have shown some real quality in their pre-tournament friendlies hammering Panama by six goals to two before then enjoying a harder fought 2-1 victory against Egypt.
Morocco preview: Strong Morocco
Walid Regragui helped Morocco become the first African team to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final when they reached that stage in Qatar in 2022 after victories against Belgium, Spain and Portugal. The Atlas Lions’ squad is even better than that and yet things are up in the air as they head to North America.
The Moroccans have been crowned African champions despite losing the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal, with Senegal stripped of that due to their protest of the officiating in the final whereby they walked off the pitch. The Moroccans have since swapped out Regragui, surprisingly, replacing him with former U-20 boss Mohamed Ouahbi.
In their pre-tournament friendlies, Morocco began with a 5-0 thrashing of Burundi before a 4-0 defeat of Madagascar. They then put in a very good first-half performance against Norway before sharing a 1-1 draw with the Scandinavians.
Brazil team news: The attack-minded Brazilians
The biggest call that Carlo Ancelotti made when naming his squad was to select legendary attacker Neymar. Almost immediately, reports began to spread that he would miss at least the opening couple of games for the Selecao and so they are down an attacker. Ancelotti has confirmed he will miss the opener, at least.
They have had to replace Wesley in the build-up to the tournament, too, with Atalanta midfielder Ederson replacing the Roma right-back. Having looked as though they may go with a 4-2-4 shape, it does seem like Ancelotti will instead opt for more of a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 with Lucas Paqueta assisting Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield.
It looks as though Matheus Cunha will pip Endrick and Igor Thiago to the striker spot with Alex Sandro still just about ahead of in-form Douglas Santos at left-back.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Guimaraes; Raphinha, Paqueta, Vinicius; Cunha
Unavailable: Neymar (Injured)
Questionable:
Morocco team news: Key withdrawals
Morocco have suffered a double injury blow just before the tournament with Marseille centre-back Nayef Aguerd and Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli having been forced to withdraw due to injury.
Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui was also forced off through due to an apparent partial shoulder dislocation in that game but the versatile defender has resumed training and could be available once again. Ouahbi has said that 'overall, he is fine', albeit a later call would made after their training session before the game.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Ounahi, Bouaddi; Saibari, El Kaabi, Diaz
Unavailable:
Questionable: Mazraoui (Injured)
Brazil’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Gabriel Magalhaes ($5.5m) – Defender
Raphinha ($5.5m) – Midfielder
Vinicius Junior ($10.0m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Raphinha
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Raphinha, Igor Thiago
Free kicks: Raphinha
Corners: Bruno Guimaraes
Morocco’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Achraf Hakimi ($6.0m) – Defender
Noussair Mazraoui ($4.4m) – Defender
Brahim Diaz ($6.4m) – Midfielder
Matchday 1 captain pick: Brahim Diaz
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Soufiane Rahimi, Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi
Free kicks: Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz
Corners: Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz
Key stats
- Brazil are the most successful nation in FIFA World Cup history, with five titles to their name. They are the only team to have participated in every edition of the tournament; FIFA World Cup 2026 marks their 23rd consecutive appearance.
- Brazil hold the all-time records for most matches won (76) and most goals scored (237) in FIFA World Cup history.
- Brazil have not lost their opening fixture at a FIFA World Cup edition since a 3-1 reverse against Spain in 1934. They have won 17 and drawn three of their subsequent tournament curtain-raisers.
- Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti was a member of Italy’s coaching staff when they reached the FIFA World Cup final on US soil in 1994, eventually falling short in a penalty shoot-out against none other than his current employers.
- Morocco are making their seventh FIFA World Cup appearance, and third in a row, marking the first time they’ve qualified for three consecutive editions. Their history at the finals began in 1970, when they became only the second African nation, after Egypt in 1934, to compete on football’s biggest stage.
- The Atlas Lions arrive at this year’s FIFA World Cup with history on their minds, hoping to replicate their sensational run at Qatar 2022. There, they became the first African side to reach the semi-finals, having topped a group that included European powerhouses Croatia and Belgium and a Canada outfit very much on the rise. They then stunned Spain and Portugal in the knockouts before falling to France in the semi-finals and ultimately finishing fourth after a narrow 2-1 defeat to familiar foes Croatia.
- Neymar is participating at his fourth FIFA World Cup, equalling the Brazilian record jointly held by eight players: Cafu, Castilho, Djalma Santos, Leão, Nilton Santos, Pelé, Ronaldo and Thiago Silva.
- Sofyan Amrabat, Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Achraf Hakimi and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti are all participating in their third FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Moroccan players ever to reach this landmark.
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Brazil vs Morocco prediction
The aforementioned Ouahbi has played a key role in the development of Moroccan football, having won the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup last year. Morocco have an impressive squad and have proven that they can be a real threat in this tournament with this opener an excellent opportunity to potentially prove that. Brazil have been unconvincing under Ancelotti and their underperformance goes further back than that, finishing fifth in CONMEBOL qualification for this tournament. The last clash between the two was a friendly in 2023 that Morocco won and it will be a more evenly balanced contest than many may expect and what ‘on paper’ suggests, with both teams scoring seeming a decent bet for this one.
Brazil vs Morocco betting tip: Both teams to score
