Ismael Saibari clipped Morocco in front with a masterful finish in the Atlas Lions’ World Cup 2026 meeting with Brazil – but Vinicius Junior curled the Selecao level as part of a pulsating start to both sides’ opening game of the tournament.
Real Madrid livewire Brahim Diaz floated an incisive pass through the centre to find Saibari, whose composed strike beat advancing Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson to give the 2022 semi-finalists a 21st-minute lead in New Jersey.
MOROCCO LEAD BRAZIL! 😮🇲🇦
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 13, 2026
Brahim Diaz threads a superb through ball to Ismael Saibari to give Morocco the lead in New Jersey!#FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DH31szXvKz
At his first World Cup match as a manager, Carlo Ancelotti pumped his fists on the sideline when Madrid’s Vinicius Junior collected a pass from Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, cut inside the box from the left and found the far corner of the net 11 minutes later.
“Knowing what he wants to do and stopping him are two different things,” former England striker Alan Shearer told BBC Sport of the 25-year-old.
“One thing you cannot do is let him come back inside onto that right foot, because he’s in danger of putting it in the top corner.”
Brazil equalise with a fantastic strike from Vinicius Junior! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/rRBSI3lzLn
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 13, 2026
Table of Contents
World Cup 2026: Vinicius Junior goal ‘very special’
Vinicius Junior’s 10th Brazil goal came on his 50th international appearance to ease the fears of fans who Shearer said had been audibly “angry and hurt” at their players’ lack of “responsibility” on the ball.
“When you’ve been under huge pressure like Brazil have, you look to your star man to say ‘bail us out here, because we’ve done nothing in this game, really, up until now’,” suggested the ex-striker.
“And all eyes are on him. Everyone’s looking at him to produce something very, very special, and he did just that.”
Brazil vs Morocco analysis: Marquinhos, Gabriel suffer
Brazil’s centre-back pairing comprised Marquinhos, who won the 2025/26 Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, and Gabriel, who lost in the final with Arsenal.
Neither could keep track of Eredivisie Player of the Season for 2025/26 Saibari, who surged through a sizeable gap vacated by the duo to score.
“He’s got the option to go around Alisson, because Alisson’s coming at him with pace,” observed Shearer.
“But no. The belief and understanding and confidence to lift it over him just like that – perfection. It’s a brilliant goal, it really is.”
World Cup 2026: Brazil team vs Morocco
Brazil made two changes from their 2-1 win over Egypt in Cleveland on June 6. Full-back Wesley (adductor) withdrew from the squad earlier in the week and was replaced by Roger Ibanez, with Gabriel also coming in at the back for Leo Pereira, who moved to the bench.
Defender Eder Militao (thigh), winger Willian Estevao (hamstring) and forward Rodrygo (knee) missed out on the finals through injury.
Wesley was replaced in the squad by Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who is poised to join Manchester United.
All-time Brazil top scorer Neymar was a surprise inclusion after barely featuring at club level over the last three years because of injuries. The Santos striker was continuing his rehabilitation on an injured left calf.
Brazil starting XI: Alisson, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos, Douglas Santos, Roger Ibanez, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Igor Thiago
Brazil substitutes: Weverton, Ederson, Alex Sandro, Danilo, Bremer, Leo Pereira, Ederson Silva, Fabinho, Danilo Santos, Matheus Cunha, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, Rayan
World Cup 2026: Morocco full line up vs Brazil
Morocco made one alteration from their 1-1 draw with fellow World Cup participants Norway in Harrison last Sunday, bringing in Bilal El Khannouss for Abde Ezzalzouli, who is out of the tournament.
Defender Nayef Aguerd missed out on the squad with a groin injury and forward Ezzalzouli withdrew after damaging a knee in a collision with teammate Chadi Riad against Norway.
Angers forward Amine Sbai and veteran centre-back or midfielder Marwane Saadane, of Saudi side Al-Fateh, replaced the duo.
Morocco starting XI: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Brahim Diaz
Morocco substitutes: Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Marwane Saadane, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Youssef Belammari, Redouane Halhal, Anass Salah Eddine, Sofyan Amrabat, Chemsdine Talbi, Samir El Mourabet, Gessime Yassine, Soufiane Rahimi, Amine Sbai, Ayoub El Kaabi, Ayoube Amaimouni
Where to watch Brazil vs Morocco: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Saturday was at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.
Fans can stream the action on a vast range of devices through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Brazil vs Morocco stats
- Brazil’s 4-1 win over Italy in the 1970 final is the joint-biggest victory in a World Cup final – with Pele scoring one goal and assisting two more – along with Brazil’s 5-2 win against Sweden in 1958 and France’s 3-0 triumph over Brazil in the 1998 final
- The Selecao, Germany, Italy, and Argentina have collectively won 73% of all FIFA World Cup tournaments, claiming 16 of the 22 titles
- They are the only team to have taken part in every single World Cup since its original edition in 1930, with this their 23rd appearance
- Since 1982, Brazil have topped their first-round group in every World Cup. They are also unbeaten in their last 20 opening matches at the finals, with 17 wins and three draws since a 3-1 defeat to Spain in 1934
- Ancelotti is at his first World Cup as head coach and is the first non-Brazilian to take charge of Brazil at the finals, although he played for Italy at the 1990 edition, taking part in three matches including the third-place game against England (2-1)
- That performance in 2022 by Morocco was the highest finish by any African nation in the tournament history
- Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi was France Under-21 captain until the midfielder’s switch to Morocco was approved in May
- Reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi made more tackles (26) than any other player at the 2022 World Cup and recorded the second-most ground duels won (41)
- Born in Spain, Brahim Diaz top-scored at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations with five goals
- Before that run to the last four, Morocco had won two of their 16 matches at World Cup final tournaments
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