Brazil shaken by Morocco's shock

The World Cup means increased expectations for Brazil. The five-time world champions start each tournament with the dream of winning the title. But in the first step of that dream journey in the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Seleção had to face reality. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, was not just a story of losing points, but also exposed the various weaknesses of Brazil's game.

From the beginning of the match, Morocco, one of the strongest teams in Africa, showed that they were by no means underdogs. On the contrary, they were in control of the field in the first 20 minutes. Morocco repeatedly created scoring opportunities by attacking fast, dominating the midfield and putting pressure on the Brazilian defense. They also got the result of that pressure. In the 21st minute of the match, Ismail Sabari gave Morocco the lead with a great finish from Brahim Diaz's extended ball.

Brazil, however, tried to turn things around quickly. In the 32nd minute of the match, the team's biggest star, Vinicius Junior, equalized. However, although the goal gave Brazil confidence, it could not restore the desired rhythm to their game. The entire match was marked by mistakes in passing, lack of coordination in midfield and discomfort in defense.

The reaction of the Brazilian camp after the match was also full of self-criticism. Defensive midfielder Danilo, who came on as a substitute, said without any reservations that Brazil's performance in the first half was "very bad". According to him, the players' positioning, technique or strategy - nothing worked as planned. The biggest problem was mental stress.

According to Danilo, the players were so worried that they repeatedly caused danger through their own mistakes. He admitted that Brazil could have fallen further behind in the first half if luck had not helped. However, he also believes that the team regained some rhythm in the second half. The midfielder sees the ability to increase possession and create chances as positive messages for future matches.

Experienced Casemiro also spoke in a similar tone. According to him, Morocco was not an easy opponent to consider. The African team has consistently proven its strength in recent years. So, while the draw in the opening match was disappointing, it is a lesson in reality.

The draw carries historical significance for Morocco. This is their first point against a South American team in World Cup history. The team previously lost to Peru in 1970 and to Brazil in 1998. Not only that, Morocco became the second team since 1966 to have five shots on goal against Brazil in the first 10 minutes of a World Cup match.

Another special aspect of the team has also been discussed. This is the first time in World Cup history that a team has fielded 11 players in their starting XI, all of whom were born outside their own country. The global character of modern football is reflected in this Moroccan team.

On the other hand, there are some positive statistics for Brazil. The Seleção have not lost their opening match in the last 21 World Cups. They have not lost in the opening match since 1934. With 17 wins and 4 draws, this is the longest opening unbeaten record in World Cup history.

In addition, Vinícius Junior scored his 10th goal for the national team. However, this is the first time Brazil has not won in the match he has scored. As a result, the Real Madrid star could not fully enjoy the joy of personal achievement.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi also touched a new milestone with the match. Playing his 11th match in the World Cup, he has become the joint record for the most appearances among African footballers.

All in all, it was a warning match for Brazil. The draw did not stop the World Cup journey, but it has become clear that the dream path to winning the title will not be easy. Now the match against Haiti is ahead. The Seleção will not only want to win there, but also regain their lost rhythm. Because there is very little room for error on the World Cup stage, and the match against Morocco showed that it is no longer possible to win a match on the strength of a name.