2026 World Cup: Brazil vs Morocco, Selecao More Favored

Brazil are the favourites to beat Morocco (Image: PA)

JAKARTA - The Brazilian national team will start its fight at the 2026 World Cup by facing Morocco in the opening match of Group C which takes place at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA, Sunday, June 14 early morning WIB. This duel is one of the most interesting matches in the group stage because it brings together the record holder of five world champions with a team that has made history as the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals.

This match is also expected to play an important role in the Group C competition which is also inhabited by Scotland and Haiti. The team that is able to secure three points has a great chance to take over the favorite position to finish as the group champion as well as obtaining a more advantageous path to the knockout phase.

Brazil came into the tournament determined to end a long wait that has lasted since 2002. Selecao is still the most successful country in World Cup history with a collection of five championship trophies, but in the last five editions they failed to return to the top. Four times eliminated in the quarter finals and once reaching the semi-finals in 2014 are records that are far from the expectations of the Brazilian football public.

New hope now lies in the hands of Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach made history when he was appointed as the first foreign coach in the history of the Brazilian national team. After winning various prestigious titles with elite European clubs, Ancelotti is now tasked with bringing the Selecao back to being a dominant force on the world football stage.

Brazil's journey to the 2026 World Cup has not been smooth. They had to work hard in the CONMEBOL zone qualifiers before finally finishing in fifth place and securing a direct ticket to the final round. However, the latest performance shows a positive trend.

In the last five matches, Brazil won three victories, one draw, and one defeat. They beat Croatia 3-1, Panama 6-2, and Egypt 2-1. The offensive line's productivity, which produced 13 goals in the last five matches, is one of the reasons why the Selecao is still considered a strong candidate for the world champion.

Brazil's strength still rests on the combination of experienced players and the new generation. Alisson Becker will be the mainstay under the goal line, while Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes are expected to lead the defense line. In the midfield, Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes will be the balance of the game, while Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta, and Vinicius Junior are expected to create threats from the front line.

The main highlight will be directed to Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid striker has been consistent in the last few seasons and is now the new face of Brazilian football. His sharpness, speed, and ability to create opportunities make Vinicius predicted to be a key player in this opening match.

However, Brazil must face a match without Neymar who is still recovering from a calf injury. In addition, right back Wesley is also confirmed to be absent due to an injury to his muscle before the tournament.

Morocco Challenged

On the other hand, Morocco comes with the status as one of the most dangerous dark horses in the 2026 World Cup. The success of reaching the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar changed their position on the world football map. The Atlas Lions proved that they are capable of competing with elite countries and are no longer just a complement to the tournament.

Morocco's development in recent years has been impressive. Since the beginning of 2023, they have recorded 33 wins, 10 draws, and only two defeats in 45 matches. The record shows the consistency that is rarely possessed by national teams at the international level.

Morocco also performed perfectly during the African zone qualifiers by winning all eight matches they played. These statistics are proof that the strength of the Atlas Lions does not only depend on the momentum of the 2022 World Cup.

However, their preparations for the tournament were not entirely ideal. Walid Regragui, the coach who led Morocco to history in Qatar, resigned less than 100 days before the World Cup began. The position was then filled by Mohamed Ouahbi, who had previously managed the U-23 team.

Despite the change of coach, Morocco's performance remains stable. In their last five matches, they have won three victories and two draws, including a 1-1 draw against Norway in the last warm-up match before flying to the United States.

Morocco's main strength remains in the disciplined organization of the game and the ability to make quick transitions. Achraf Hakimi is the leader on the field, while Sofyan Amrabat, Brahim Diaz, Ismael Saibari, and Bilal El Khannouss are ready to be the engine of the team's game.

Brahim Diaz is expected to be the biggest threat to the Brazilian defense. The player who strengthened Real Madrid is in good form and has just scored his 14th international goal in 26 matches with the national team.

In terms of history, the two countries do not often meet. In the 1998 World Cup, Brazil won convincingly 3-0 over Morocco in the group stage. However, the last meeting in a friendly match in 2023 was won by Morocco with a score of 2-1.

However, the statistics still favor Brazil. Selecao won seven of eight matches against African teams in World Cup history. The only defeat was against Cameroon in the 2022 World Cup group stage.

Opta's simulation data also shows Brazil's advantage. Based on 25,000 simulation matches, Brazil has a 57.7 percent chance of winning. The draw is at 23.5 percent, while Morocco's chances of winning are only 18.8 percent.

Prediction

Morocco has proven itself to be one of the most solid teams in the world in recent years. Disciplined game organization, tight defense, and the ability to exploit counterattacks make the Atlas Lions able to make it difficult for any opponent.

But overall, Brazil still has an edge in individual quality, squad depth, and experience in facing big matches. The presence of players like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Bruno Guimaraes, and Marquinhos gives Carlo Ancelotti more options to control the course of the match.

Morocco will likely play more patiently and rely on Hakimi's speed and Brahim Diaz's creativity in counterattacks. On the other hand, Brazil is expected to dominate possession of the ball and try to take advantage of the speed of their front line to dismantle the opponent's defense.

If they are able to perform effectively in the final third of the field, the Selecao have a great chance to start the tournament with a win.

Prediction : Brazil 2-1 Morocco.

Predicted Starting XI

Brazil:

Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Sandro; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes; Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior; Matheus Cunha.

Morocco:

Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Amrabat, El Aynaoui, Ounahi; Brahim Diaz, Saibari, El Khannouss.

Match Schedule

2026 World Cup Group C

Brazil vs Morocco

MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Kick-off 05.00 WIB