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Brazil and Morocco share points in World Cup 2026 debut with spectacular goals
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ Mexico /Sports

Brazil and Morocco share points in World Cup 2026 debut with spectacular goals

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in North America, with both teams scoring spectacular goals.
  • Morocco surprised Brazil by scoring first through Ismael Saibari in the 21st minute, but Vinicius Junior equalized for Brazil in the 32nd minute.
  • Both teams shared the points, acknowledging the need for caution against strong opponents in a group that also includes other competitive teams.

Brazil and Morocco kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaigns with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in New Jersey. While both teams aimed for victory, a sense of caution prevailed, recognizing the strength of their group stage opponents.

Although, by history and by the quality of their players and, of course their coach, the pressure was on La Verdeamarela, which lacked a bit of samba.

โ€” El Universal (MX)Commentary on Brazil's performance and expectations.

Morocco struck first in the 21st minute. Brahim Dรญaz found a gap in Brazil's defense, setting up Ismael Saibari. The Moroccan attacker skillfully beat Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, then finished with a delicate chip over goalkeeper Alisson Becker. This early goal stunned Carlo Ancelotti's Brazilian side, who struggled to find an answer.

With power and explosiveness, the Moroccan attacker won the position against Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes and took advantage of Alisson Becker's hesitant exit to finish with a chip and open the scoring (21').

โ€” El Universal (MX)Describing Morocco's opening goal.

However, Brazil's star winger Vinicius Junior soon delivered a moment of brilliance. In the 32nd minute, he weaved into the area, evaded a defender, and unleashed an unstoppable right-footed shot into the net. The Real Madrid forward's equalizer brought Brazil back into the game, showcasing the samba flair they were expected to display.

Finally, he appeared when Brazil needed it most.

โ€” El Universal (MX)Describing Vinicius Junior's equalizer.

The match remained tense until the end, with both Alisson and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou making crucial saves to prevent their teams from losing. The draw means both sides secure a point in their debut, but they must now focus on their upcoming matches as they vie for the top spot in Group C.

They wanted to win in their World Cup debut, but they were also aware that they had to be cautious against their most powerful rival in the group.

โ€” El Universal (MX)Explaining the cautious approach of both teams.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.