Brazil’s opening game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was far from great as the record winners of the tournament limped through a difficult game to record a 1-1 draw against Morocco and Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team deserved to be criticised for their performance.
Ismael Saibari scored in the 21st minute with a beautiful chip over Alisson Becker that punctuated the North African nation’s brilliant start to the game before Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior slipped in-field from the left side and unleashed a powerful shot that flashed past Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bono for the equaliser in the 32nd minute.
Morocco missed several chances to double their lead prior to Vinicius Jr’s moment of individual brilliance and Ancelotti called on his team to play better moving forward.
“This is the first match of the World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “It wasn’t a bad result but we will keep picking up. We have to do better, that’s very clear.”
“We have to have a more balanced team and we have to be more aggressive.”
“I am not disappointed but I am not satisfied either. Not everything goes perfect and we have to accept criticism” Ancelotti said.
Brazil next take on Haiti on Saturday, June 20th.
