André Coelho/EPA
Brazil started very badly and only Vini Jr. managed to save a point. Australia served two Turkish delights and Qatar equalized at 90+4.
The supposed favorite Brazil got off on the wrong foot this Saturday at the 2026 World Cup, being surprised very early on by Morocco’s evidently superior pace, at least as far as the team was concerned: only the individual work of Vinícius Jr. managed to undo what was starting to look like a disastrous opening night in the competition.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Morocco dominated and “crushed” the Canary Islands in the first 30 minutes at the MetLife Stadium and deservedly took the lead through Ismael Saibari, who broke through the experienced Brazilian central defenders – both present in this season’s Champions League final – and finished with a hat-trick over Allisonleaving Brazil close to losing the first game of a World Cup for the first time since 1934.
The even more experienced coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted: nervousness got in the way the Brazilian team on this hot afternoon.
“I think it was a difficult match, especially in the first half,” said Ancelotti, as quoted by AP. “Maybe the team was a little anxious, and the nervousness was showing. The second half was better, but it was still difficult, and I’m sure we’ll improve.”
Vinícius Júnior saved a point with a great goal in the second halfhis second in World Cups, but later admitted that Brazil started the game “very badly” and that the team needed to hold the ball better and move more.
Ancelotti also promised to analyze the reasons for the bad start before the next game, against Haiti, on Friday, in Philadelphia.
“In the first half, we were very unbalanced. We improved a little in the second half”, he explained. However, he stressed: “The result is not bad. Nobody wins the World Cup on their debut.”
“I’m not disappointed, but I’m not satisfied either. We need to work, but that’s normal. Morocco played well. They’re a solid team, very well organized. It was a difficult game”, admitted the Italian. “For various reasons, a debut in the World Cup may not end as expected. The objective is to qualify, move on to the next phase and improve over time”, he further said.
Australia served Turkish delight
Australia, making its sixth consecutive appearance, beat Turkeyreturning after third place in 2002, for 2-0in the closing match of the first round of Group D
In Vancouver, Canada, Nestory Irankunda, in the 27th minute, and Connor Metcalfe, in the 75th, sealed the Oceania team’s fifth triumph in 21 World Cup games.
In the Group D standings, Australia is in second place, with the same three points as co-hosts the United States, who beat Paraguay 4-1, while the Turks are at zero, like the South Americans.
Finding a draw at the end has a different flavor
A goal from Boualem Khoukhi, in the 90+4 minute, allowed Qatar to surprise Switzerland and secure a draw 1-1in the first round of Group B of the 2026 football World Cup, in Santa Clara, in the United States.
The Swiss, completing their 13th appearance in a World Cup, took the lead in the 17th minute, with a penalty converted by Breel Embolo, but the defender’s ‘out of time’ goal guaranteed equality for the Qataris, who are participating in the competition for the second time, after organizing the previous edition, in 2022.
After the first round, all teams in Group B are level on one point, as in the other pool game on Friday, co-hosts Canada also drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Not so surprising: Scotland beats Haiti
Scotland, who had not appeared in the finals for 28 years, beat Haiti on Saturday by 1-0in the first round of Group D of the 2026 World Cup, played in Foxborough.
A solitary goal from John McGinn, scored in the 29th minute, gave the Scots victory, against a Haitian team that had their fourth defeat in as many World Cup games, after the three on their debut in 1974.
With this triumph, Scotland took the isolated lead of the group, since, in the other match, Brazil and Morocco tied by one goal.
