The World Cup 2026 opened with a statement: Morocco, the African champions, held five-time winners Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their Group C clash at the MetLife Stadium in New York. It was a result that immediately underlined the depth and unpredictability of a tournament that has expanded to 48 teams for the first time.
The match itself was a tale of two halves. Morocco took a deserved lead through Ismael Saibari in the 21st minute, capitalising on a disjointed Brazilian midfield that saw Manchester United's Casemiro substituted at half-time after a nightmare display. Brazil, managed by Carlo Ancelotti and missing injured stars Neymar, Eder Militao, Rodrygo and Estevao, levelled through a stunning Vinicius Jr curling effort just before the break. The second half produced no further goals, leaving both sides with a point.
“Brazil and Morocco draw 1-1 in World Cup 2026 Group C opener”
This World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, is the first to feature 48 nations. The new format splits teams into 16 groups of three, with the top two from each advancing to a round of 32 knockout stage. Brazil are seeking a record sixth title, while Morocco aim to build on their historic semi-final run in 2022. For UK readers, there is immediate interest: Scotland, making their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, are also in Group C alongside Haiti, meaning they will face both Brazil and Morocco. England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama and will be monitoring potential knockout opponents.
The result also carries significance for Manchester United fans. Casemiro, who announced his exit from Old Trafford earlier this year and has just over two weeks left on his contract, was widely criticised for his performance. One fan on social media compared his display to the "Amorim Casemiro" – a reference to his poor form under former manager Ruben Amorim. His booking and substitution capped a difficult start for the 34-year-old.
Q: How does the World Cup 2026 format work? A: 48 teams are divided into 16 groups of three. Each team plays two group matches, with the top two from each group advancing to a round of 32 knockout stage. This is the first World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries: the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Q: Why did Brazil struggle against Morocco? A: Brazil were hit by a slew of injuries before the tournament, including Neymar, Rodrygo and Eder Militao. Their midfield, featuring Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, was overrun by Morocco’s pressing. Casemiro was particularly poor, having fewer touches than any other Brazil outfield player in the first half, and was substituted at half-time.
Q: What does this result mean for Scotland and England? A: Scotland, in Group C with Brazil and Morocco, now know that both sides are beatable. A point for Morocco gives Scotland hope of advancing. England, in Group L, will watch all groups to assess potential last-32 opponents. The result also shows that traditional powerhouses are vulnerable, which could benefit Thomas Tuchel’s side later in the tournament.
What happens next? Brazil face Scotland in their second Group C match, while Morocco take on Haiti. The group will be decided by the final round of matches. England begin their campaign soon, while Scotland's first game is against Haiti. The tournament’s expanded knockout stage means every result carries extra weight, with teams having less margin for error in a three-team group.