Brazil vs Morocco
You know the World Cup 2026 is up and running when Brazil takes the field, and what a game we have in store when the Samba Boys meet Africa’s top team, Morocco, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest managers ever to sit in a dugout. And according to the latest World Cup 2026 betting odds, he leads a team heading for a semi-final place, but without winning the tournament in 24 years, the legendary Samba fans want more than that. But what a challenge they face in their first outing.
African Cup of Nations champions Morocco are managed by Mohamed Ouahbi, who took over in March after coaching the U20 and U23 teams, and he brings a team which sits proudly in seventh spot in the FIFA World Rankings, a single place behind the Selecao.
The tournament kicks off on Thursday night when hosts Mexico take on South Africa, and then the games come thick and fast, and Brazil versus Morocco is pure box office.
Talking Points
The expectation weighs heavily on Brazil
Since last winning the World Cup back in 2002, Brazil have not appeared in a final, falling at the quarter-final stage four times and reaching a semi-final in 2014, and Samba fans have more recently had to watch Lionel Messi’s Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar.
If the Selecao is to get the World Cup 2026 results they need, their big players have to stand up over the next four weeks, and Ancelotti has some of the world’s best at his disposal. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has a point to prove after watching Barcelona pick up a second consecutive La Liga title, and he is yet to win a title with Brazil, winning a Copa America runners-up medal in 2021. Still only 25 years of age, Vinicius has his best years ahead of him, but he will be keen to improve on his ratio of nine goals in 49 internationals.
Vinicius will link up with Barcelona’s Raphinha in the front line, while Brentford’s 24-year-old hotshot Igor Thiago will be itching to get his chance, with two goals from his first four Selecao games. There will be more Premier League stars in deeper roles, with Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes sitting alongside the rejuvenated Casemiro, who has enjoyed his best season at Manchester United. And Arsenal’s defensive rock Gabriel Magalhaes will stand tall in defence and be a threat at corners. With 17 clean sheets in 32 games, Gabriel has had another superb campaign for the Premier League title winners.
Morocco is the pride of Africa
The Atlas Lions won fans worldwide at the 2022 World Cup, as they became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and in great style. They are the current AFCON champions and the highest-ranked nation on that continent, and they have plenty of world-class stars in their ranks, led by PSG wing-back Achraf Hakimi. The Champions League winner, now 27, is a classy operator and widely acknowledged to be one of the best attacking right-backs on the planet. With 19 goals in 128 games for PSG and 11 in 95 for the Atlas Lions, he will lead the team at both ends of the pitch, and his superb delivery will supply ammunition for Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz.
With 14 goals in 26 games for Morocco, the 26-year-old is a serious goal threat and will keep Gabriel busy for sure. Like Vinicius, he arrives in the USA keen to shrug off a La Liga disappointment, as well as building on Morocco’s success at AFCON.
History
Five-time winners Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002, while Morocco famously reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, beating Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo on the way.
These two nations have met just twice before and have picked up one victory each, Brazil winning a 1998 World Cup clash 3-0, while Morocco edged a 2-1 win in a 2023 friendly.
In terms of recent form, Brazil have won three and lost one of their four games in 2026, while the Atlas Lions are unbeaten throughout 2025 and 2026, taking in 25 matches and 20 victories.
Betting Tip
The Selecao are strong favourites at SBOTOP odds of 1.65 to kick off with a victory, while Morocco can be backed at 5.00 to win or 3.75 to draw, with the Double Chance: Morocco or Draw at 2.10.
This is a tough match to call and one with real peril for Brazil, so I’m going to sit on the fence and back a game with goals, though not an avalanche.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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