A mouthwatering battle awaits as Brazil and Morocco face off in Group C at New York New Jersey Stadium
Group C
Sunday, 14 June | New York New Jersey Stadium
Kick-off time
06:00 (GMT+8)
The match
Five-time champions Brazil will take on African giants Morocco in one of the most tantalising group-stage match-ups at FIFA World Cup 2026™. Brazil, now under the tutelage of legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti, will be out to begin their title tilt in style. They will face the Atlas Lions, who embarked on a stunning run to fourth place at Qatar 2022.
Brazil possible starting XI
Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Alex Sandro; Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Junior
Morocco possible starting XI
Bounou; Hakimi, Riad, Diop, Belammari; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Ounahi; Brahim Diaz, Rahimi, Saibari
What they said…
“This is the most special and important moment of my career. I have the physical and technical level I’ve always dreamed of. I haven’t had any injuries this season. I’ve prepared very well to reach this moment. Playing with Ancelotti gives me the greatest peace of mind; he gives me a lot of freedom and confidence to do everything I’ve already done for the national team and everything I’ve already done for Real Madrid. There are eight games left and I can change this story for our country and for our players.” Vinicius Jr, Brazil forward
“Fear is an important component of life. If you’re not afraid, a lion looks like a cat to you. Fear is a lifesaver. There are moments when you should be concerned so that your team can play the best game possible. But also have a lot of confidence. By nature, I’m very optimistic and I think the team is well prepared for this game and for the World Cup.” Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil coach
“A lot of people say this isn’t the Brazil of the past. But it is still Brazil. Honestly, when you look at the quality of their players, the passion they have, and their determination to win this World Cup, it remains Brazil. For us, it is a prestigious match. It is a great honor to begin our World Cup campaign against Brazil.” Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco coach
“I think that in a match like this, in a tournament such as the World Cup, there are no favourites. It’s 50-50. It will be a very balanced game and it will come down to small details one way or the other. Above all, it will be a question of efficiency on both sides. We hope those details will go our way. I hope we can make the most of every opportunity we get and then defend well afterwards.” Achraf Hakimi, Morocco captain
Previous World Cup meetings
Brazil and Morocco’s only previous World Cup meeting came in the group stage at France 1998. The Seleção ran out 3-0 winners in Nantes, with Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto on target.
New York New Jersey Stadium
A multipurpose stadium which opened in 2010, New York New Jersey Stadium currently hosts the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets. The venue was the centrepiece for the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as fans from across the globe tuned in to see Chelsea’s thrilling 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain. During World Cup 2026, eight matches will be played here, with five group games, knockout fixtures in the Round of 32 and Round of 16 and the showpiece FIFA World Cup Final on 19 July.