Brazil vs Morocco prediction, tips and odds | World Cup 2026

Brazil open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It is the opening fixture of Group C, which also features Haiti and Scotland, and the stakes for the five-time world champions could not be higher: they have not lifted the trophy since 2002, and Carlo Ancelotti was appointed specifically to end that 24-year drought.

Morocco, ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, arrive with the ambition of building on the status they earned in Qatar in 2022, when they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. The change of head coach, with Mohamed Ouahbi replacing Walid Regragui in March 2026, introduces an element of uncertainty into what had been a smoothly functioning project.

Brazil vs Morocco – match preview and form guide

Ancelotti took charge as the first foreign head coach of Brazil since 1925, and his mandate is straightforward: restore the Selecao to the summit of world football. The South American qualifiers were far from smooth. A fifth-place finish and a series of home stumbles dented confidence among supporters, though the Italian repeatedly stressed that tournament readiness, not table position, was his priority.

The pre-tournament friendly programme brought a marked improvement. After a 1-1 draw with Tunisia and a 1-2 defeat to France, Brazil won three consecutive matches: 3-1 against Croatia, 6-2 against Panama and 2-1 against Egypt. Across five warm-up fixtures, Ancelotti’s side scored 13 goals, a sign that the attacking line with Vinicius Junior and Raphinha on the flanks has found its rhythm.

The concern lies at the other end. Brazil conceded seven goals across five friendlies without keeping a single clean sheet. Alex Sandro, who turns 35 at left-back, has looked vulnerable in defensive transitions, while the midfield pivot built around Casemiro, 34, does not always contain the opposition press with the required intensity.

Vinicius Junior arrives in outstanding form. The Real Madrid winger finished the 2025/26 season with 22 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, and on the left flank he will represent Brazil’s primary attacking threat. Alongside Raphinha (11 goals in 39 caps), he forms one of the most dangerous wing partnerships in the tournament.

The biggest uncertainty in Brazil’s squad is Neymar. The most capped player in the group (128 caps, 79 goals) has been dealing with a grade-two calf injury and did not feature in any of the pre-tournament friendlies. His involvement in the opening match has not been confirmed, and the likelihood of him starting remains slim.

Morocco are experiencing a remarkable period. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held on home soil, ended with a controversial title awarded by the CAF Appeal Board after the result of the final against Senegal was overturned on administrative grounds. Regardless of the circumstances, the tournament confirmed the quality of this generation: Brahim Diaz finished as top scorer with five goals in seven matches, and Achraf Hakimi received the African Player of the Year award.

The coaching change in March introduced a new dynamic. Ouahbi, who had previously led the Morocco Under-20 side to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup title, is attempting to implement a more attacking style than his predecessor. A 4-3-3 formation with Brahim Diaz operating as a number 10 and Hakimi pushing high in attack is the new head coach’s primary tactical signature.

Form in the warm-up matches has been solid if uneven. Morocco won three of five friendlies (2-1 against Paraguay, 5-0 against Burundi, 4-0 against Madagascar) but also drew twice: 1-1 with Ecuador and 1-1 with Norway. They scored 13 goals across five games, though the return against stronger opposition (one goal in each of the two draws) suggests the attacking output may dip when facing a more organised defensive block.

The most significant issue concerns the squad. Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd have been withdrawn from the World Cup squad. The former sustained a knee sprain in the Norway friendly, while the latter was ruled out with a pubic bone fracture that did not heal in time. They have been replaced by Amine Sbai of Angers and Marwane Saadane of Al-Fateh.

Morocco’s defence, despite the losses, remains impressive. Across five friendlies they conceded just three goals and kept two clean sheets (against Burundi and Madagascar). Bounou in goal, Hakimi on the right and the defensive block that neutralised Spain and Portugal in 2022 remain the foundation upon which Ouahbi is building his team.

Brazil vs Morocco – team news and predicted XIs

Brazil

Neymar remains the major question mark. The grade-two calf injury, sustained while still at Santos, ruled him out of the entire pre-tournament programme. His participation in the opening fixture has been neither confirmed nor ruled out, but the chances of him starting are considered slim.

Ancelotti has already confirmed his starting line-up. Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes will form the midfield axis, with Lucas Paqueta operating as the advanced playmaker between the lines. Up front, Matheus Cunha, Igor Thiago and Endrick competed for the central striker role, with the latter scoring the decisive goal in the 2-1 victory over Egypt in the final warm-up match.

At the back, Marquinhos (105 caps, captain) and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes form the centre-back partnership, with Danilo at right-back and Alex Sandro at left-back. Alisson in goal gives Brazil one of the most experienced defensive units at the tournament.

Morocco

The loss of Ezzalzouli and Aguerd is a significant blow for Ouahbi. Ezzalzouli was the first-choice left winger, and Aguerd one of the most experienced defenders in the squad. Both featured in the historic 2022 World Cup semi-final and in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Their replacements, Sbai (25, Angers) and Saadane (34, Al-Fateh), possess limited international experience.

Mazraoui’s fitness is the central concern. The Manchester United left-back was withdrawn in the 29th minute of the Norway friendly with a shoulder problem. Ouahbi has expressed confidence that the defender will be available, but a final decision will be made on matchday. Should he miss out, Morocco’s left flank would become an obvious weak point, a corridor that Raphinha on Brazil’s right wing will look to exploit.

In attack, Ismael Saibari (nine goals in 31 caps) is expected to operate as the false nine, with Brahim Diaz (14 goals in 26 caps, Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Golden Boot winner) and Bilal El Khannouss of Stuttgart on the flanks. Ayyoub Bouaddi, just 18 years of age and a midfielder at Lille, and Neil El Aynaoui of Roma will form the double pivot.

Brazil vs Morocco – predicted line-ups

Brazil (4-3-3): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Junior

Morocco (4-3-3): Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Chadi Riad, Issa Diop, Noussair Mazraoui; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Azzedine Ounahi; Brahim Diaz, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss

Brazil vs Morocco – head-to-head record

Brazil and Morocco have met just three times in history. The Selecao have won two of the three encounters, including the only World Cup meeting: a 3-0 group-stage victory at the 1998 tournament in France. Prior to that, in October 1997, Brazil had beaten Morocco 2-0 in a friendly.

The most recent encounter, in March 2023 in Tangier, produced a surprise. Morocco won 2-1 in a friendly, recording their first and only victory over Brazil. Regragui’s side, still riding the wave from Qatar, controlled the match and exploited the space behind Brazil’s full-backs.

The World Cup record stands at 1-0 in favour of Brazil (3-0 in 1998). Morocco have never scored against Brazil in an official tournament fixture, though it is worth noting that the sample consists of a single match from 28 years ago, which significantly limits its predictive value.

Brazil vs Morocco – tips and prediction

Brazil vs Morocco – frequently asked questions