Vinicius Junior Rescues Brazil in 1-1 World Cup Draw — World Cup Draw

Brazil’s world cup draw with Morocco started badly and ended level at 1-1 in New Jersey. Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead in the 21st minute, but Vinicius Junior answered 11 minutes later to keep Brazil from opening the 2026 tournament with a loss.

Vinicius Junior and Saibari

Saibari’s goal gave Morocco the first edge in the Group C opener on Saturday. Vinicius then delivered Brazil’s equaliser and kept the match from slipping away before halftime.

The response mattered because Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title and had not lifted the trophy in 24 years. Carlo Ancelotti arrived with that assignment after Brazil’s fifth-placed finish in South American qualifying, and the opener offered little margin for a slow start.

Ancelotti’s Brazil start

Ancelotti is the first foreign coach to lead Brazil at football’s biggest tournament, and the draw immediately put pressure on that project. Brazil still left New Jersey with a point, but the result also showed how quickly the tournament can tighten when a favorite drops points in its first match.

Neymar was unavailable as Brazil began the competition because he was recovering from a calf injury, leaving Vinicius as the player who had to change the scoreline. Alisson Becker held his side together enough to reach the final whistle level, while Morocco backed up Mohamed Ouahbi’s pre-match message to his players not to fear Brazil.

Brazil, Morocco and Group C

Brazil now move on to Haiti, and Morocco take on Scotland next. The draw leaves Brazil needing a sharper second match if they want to move from a shaky opening into the position expected of a team chasing a sixth crown.