World Cup: Brazil seeks its old magic against Morocco amid New York's basketball fever

The World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco, held near New York, began as a secondary event due to the city's intense focus on the New York Knicks' NBA finals. Streets were blocked for fans, and many New Yorkers had little attention for the game between the record world champion and a strong Moroccan team.

Despite the lack of widespread attention, some notable figures followed the match. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed football fanatic, attended with his wife, sitting among regular spectators. They witnessed a 1-1 draw that left Brazilians feeling fortunate.

Morocco took the lead with an artistic chip shot from Ismael Saibari, showcasing the talent that has attracted interest from clubs like Bayern Munich. Brazil appeared uninspired for most of the game, with Vinícius Júnior scoring the equalizer. Morocco's performance reinforced their status as a strong team, demonstrating that their semifinal appearance in the Qatar World Cup was not a mere accident.

Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, acknowledged his team's subpar performance, stating, "Sorry that we didn't play as we wanted." Morocco's unbeaten streak, extending to 29 games depending on how the Africa Cup of Nations final is counted, further highlights their consistent strength.

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Sorry that we didn't play as we wanted.