Brazil begin their bid for a sixth World Cup crown against Morocco, in an intriguing Group C clash that comes before Scotland face Haiti later in Boston.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are among several highly fancied for the sprawling tournament, which takes place across the USA, Canada and Mexico, but they face a challenge from surprise semi-finalists in the 2022 edition, Morocco.
The Atlas Lions – who were controversially awarded the Afcon title off the pitch after farcical scenes in the final against Senegal – are now managed by Mohamed Ouahbi after the highly regarded Walid Regrarui resigned, but they remain a dark horse to be wary of.
Brazil were hit by a slew of injuries before the tournament, with the likes of Eder Militao, Rodrygo, and Estevao ruled out, while the Selecao will also be without Neymar for this game after their all-time top scorer suffered an injury set-back.
Follow live updates from Brazil v Morocco below
Brazil vs Morocco prediction: 2026 World Cup betting tips & odds
Five- time champions Brazil are currently joint fifth favourites to win the 2026 World Cup at odds of 10/1 along with Argentina and behind Portugal, England, France and Spain.
They are seeking their first title since 2002, making this their longest drought without the title since they went 24 years from 1970 to 1994 – a run that ended in the US when they beat Italy on penalties.
You can get 150/1 on Morocco to win the tournament for the first time in the latest World Cup odds, but you would back them to get out of Group C, in second place at odds of 10/11.
Check out our tips for this evening’s clash:
New York/New Jersey: MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium (branded New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup) hosts this evening’s match – here’s what you need to know:
Capacity: 82,500
Matches: Five group, one last 32, one last 16, final
Info: All eyes will be on East Rutherford for the final on 19 July. Before that, the stadium will host Brazil’s opener against Morocco on 13 June and England’s final group game against Panama on 27 June.
Brazil contend with memories of 1994 as new generation hope for their own Romario
As the 2026 World Cup gets underway, an unfamiliar situation is unfolding in the Brazil camp. The five-time winners, so often among the favourites going into the summer, are something of an unknown entity.
The tournament’s most successful team have come to define the World Cup across their five victorious campaigns, from Pele’s final brace and Carlos Alberto’s goal against Italy to Ronaldo’s redemption in 2002.
And 32 years after winning the World Cup in Pasadena thanks to another iconic moment, the next generation of the Selecao arrives in North America hoping to lift the famous trophy for a second time on US soil.
However, they risk falling to an unprecedented run of bad form. Brazil have never featured in six World Cups in a row without winning one, but this tournament could well put the Selecao on the wrong side of history.
Chris Wilson digs into the shadow of 1994 looming over Brazil:
The Independent’s Sports Editor Jack Rathborn is at MetLife Stadium for us this evening and will be providing regular updates
“Having got to Met Life Stadium four hours before kick-off, the buses are rammed with fans, with Moroccan red outnumbering Brazilian yellow for now.
“Most fans are navigating the chaos of the New York-New Jersey transport by hopping on New Jersey buses through to the American Dream mall…
“Carlo Ancelotti will certainly hope he experiences the American Dream as Brazil push for their sixth world title. It’s a scorcher, too, with 30c temperatures already, making those mandatory hydration breaks sensible, perhaps, for the first time in this tournament.”
How ‘brand Brazil’ lost its shine as World Cup’s defining team
Bring the adverts up on YouTube now and what will strike first is how dated it looks. The production, the concept: it all belongs to a bygone era. From the airport to the dressing room, the Three Rs are very much not in 4k.
For fans of a specific age, Brazil and Nike’s series of promos still stir up reminders of a golden era, supported by the idea – so eloquently expressed in a piece by the author Paul Howard last week – of everyone’s favourite World Cup being the one closest to when they are 10 years old.
For the Selecao, however, that last globally successful period of joga bonito is a peak that feels more and more difficult to reascend with each passing tournament. Before Carlo Ancelotti’s team open Group C against Morocco at 11pm BST on Saturday they are at the foot of the climb with an ageing core that struggled through qualification, no longer considered certainties to reach the latter stages.
Read Alan Smith diving into the decline of Brazil:
Neymar injury
Neymar sustained a grade two calf injury just three weeks out from the tournament.
The 34-year-old is all but certain to miss this evening’s match against Morocco. However, coach Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic that the Brazilian icon could be in contention to face Haiti next Friday.
“Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible,” Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “The expectation is that he can rejoin the group [training] next week.”
Early Morocco team news
For Morocco, Marwane Saadane and Amine Sbai replaced Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli shortly before the tournament, with Anass Salah-Eddine, Chemsdine Talbi and Noussair Mazraoui all doubts for this first game.
Morocco XI: Bounou, Riad, Diop, Hakimi, Mazraoui, Saibari, Ounahi, El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Ezzalzouli, Diaz
Early Brazil team news
Midfielder Ederson was a late replacement for the injured Wesley for Brazil, while veteran Neymar, who came into camp with a muscular issue, is not expected to be fit.
Brazil possible XI: Alisson, Wesley, Marquinhos, Douglas Santos, Roger Ibanez, Casemiro, Paqueta, Guimaraes, Igor Thiago, Raphinha, Vinicius Jr
How to watch Brazil v Morocco
Brazil begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco, with kick-off at 6pm ET (local time), 3pm PT and 11pm BST at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Viewers in the UK can watch the game for free on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 10.30pm BST, or stream it live on BBC iPlayer.
Viewers in the US can watch the game on Fox Sports and Fox One.
Brazil v Morocco
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Brazil v Morocco.
In what is one of the must fascinating match-ups of the entire group stage, the five-time World Cup winners take on the 2022 surprise semi-finalist, who many are tipping as dark horses this time around.
This is a Group C clash, so in Scotland’s group, although the Scots’ attention may be elsewhere this evening…
