Match Day LIVE
Match Week 1.
#Fifa World Cup ,2026
Brazil vs Morocco
Venue – ,New Jersey, .MetLife Stadium
Group C.
Time. 11 .00 pm local Nigerian time .
Date – June 13 , 2026.
The Selecao, the Brazilian National team faces one of African reprensentatives , the Magbrebs of Morocco , AKA Atlas Lions in their Fifa 2026 World Cup opening match at the colossal MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Can the Brazilians over come the mighty Moroccans ?? Or will this be a repeat of the last World Cup when the Selecaos lost 1- 0 to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a group match when the two countries met Quartar 2022.?
While the five times World Champions are eager to make amends in their quarter finals elimination four years ago in Quartar, the Magbrebians face a momumental challenge this night as they will endeavor to replicate their semi finals heroic performance four years ago in Quartar.
The Brazilian national team stands as the nost successful team in the history of the Mundial since its inception in 1930, which was hosted and won by Uruguay ,playing more games (114) ,as well as winning more games ,(74) and more trophies , five in their kitty so far than any other Nation in the history of the World Cup, while they have competed in every edition of the Mundial since its inaugural tournament in 1930.
They added more feather to their glowing history when they appointed for the first time a foreigner as their Manager in 2025 , Carlo Ancellotti of Italy , who have had a good managerial career in Europe spanning three decades of trophy laden history now , relishing a fresh career at the International stage.
The last time the Selecaos lifted the World Cup was during the playing days of Ronaldhno, Ronaldo as well as the famous left footer and full back ,Roberto Carlos , in 2002 .If history is anything to go by, their 24 year drought without a silverware matches the exact length of time between 1970 and 1994 , when last they lifted it during the playing days of legendary Pele of Brazil , which ultimately ended in American soil in 1994 when the USA hosted in USA 94 , which thr Samba boys won with ease .
Can that almost neglected history be repeated this year 2026 in American soil , as they say, ” history has a way of repeating itself” only *Time will Tell , as time is a Great healer of Wounds*
The Samba lads went through the ranks during the CONMOBOL qualifying series, with the expanded new team format of 48 teams , as they won eight matches ,drew four and lost six games across 18 games and came fifth out of the six teams from the group to claim a direct spot on offer at the CONMOBOL .
It was a hard fought qualification series for them , after a shock defeat 1-0 to Bolivia in theurt last World Cup qualifying campaign, it was not a funny one for them as they wobnled and fumbled to get a direct berth for this years Mundial.
Their dwindling fortune contined , with series of below average performance against European heavy weights ,France ,2-1 as well as Asian giant , Japan , 3-2 , in friendly matches in October last year .
They got a respite against Croatia and minnows ,,Panama and Egypt whom they beat serialy..
Presently they sit tight at the fifth position in the global fifa football ranking , as they head to Saturday’s clash with the Atlas Lions of Morocco, having won their last seven out of eight matches against African teams during the World Cup , with the exception of their loss to Cameroon 1-0 in a shock and rude defeat at the Quartar 2022.
The Atlas Lions have recently viven a good account of themselves in the hist of African representation in the Mundial ,and are gearing up for another good run after four years ago seni finals qualification which took the football world by surprise.
They are again tacitcally well equipped for another showdown with tbeir 100% qualifying campaign record where they did not lose a match , they are now regaardes as one of the tournaments premier dark horses to engineer another deep run .
However, the Moroccans three appearance campaigns in 1970 ,1986 and 1994 was a story of bitter sweet two of them in Mexico, while the other was in USA 1994 , they were roundly beaten in 1970 as well as in 1994, while they gave a good account of themslves in 1986 when they made it to the last round of 16 stage , beating Portugal at that time by 3-1 . If history is anything to go by , all their previous and present World Cup appearance have been on American soil , 1970, Mexico, 1986, Mexico then 2026 co- hosted by Mexico and two other North American countries. It seems they have that luck in qualifying for World Cups all in American soil, what a coincidence for them and a record too for the World football governing body Fifa to take note as a record and reference.
Presently , the Magbrebian team have developed into a football power house in the Afircan continent lately , though without much trophy in their kitty except a reversed AFCON championship title won by Senegal but reversed by CAF to the Atlas Lions , but so far they have won 33 matches , 10 draws and two defeats in 45 games , thats an intimidating campaign at least from the African point of view ,since the start of 2023 and they are currently ranked seventh by Fifa ranking ahead of European heavy weights like Germany , Netherlands and Belgium.
Thanks to thejr former Coach and player , Regragui who have single handedly guided the Atlas Lions through the rough patches of CAF qualifying matches where they recorded eight wins out of eight matches, before they were controversially awarded the CAF Cup finals despite losing in Open play within 90+ minutes due to crowed disturbance from the Seneglese fans .
New Manager , Under 23 , coach , Mohammed Quaharbi have continued from where Regragui stopped with three wins and two draws from five matches, sharing points with Norway in a 1-1 draw .
The Atlas Lions hope to progress back to back from their previous aemi final berth in Quartar , will head to Saturday match against Brazil having lost two of their last three matches but were triumphant in the last friendly in March 2023 which they won 2-1 . .
Injury concerns are rhe nain worries if rhe two teams with Brazil having a slight edge , Neymar’s injury is one of them but since he stil in the squad that means he will ppay later in the tournament but not the first match against the Magbrebs ,
Right back ,Wesley has been ruked out of the World Cup due to injury sustained in their friendly win against Egypt ,
Ederson likely to be a Man United player next season in the premiership is a late replacement and have been severally tested at the right back , Danilo, and Roger Ibanez are also on standby for Carlo Ancellotti tonight at rhe right bsck against Morocco.
Their mid field and defenst are veung guided by the premiership trio of Bruno Guimares and Gabriel Marghaheles and Allisson Barker are all set to keep the Atlas Lions at Bay in their rear guard , along with Vinicius of Real Madrid , Raphina of Barcelona .
While the central striker role for the Selecao needs a quick and on time desicion by Ancellotti either , Igor Thiago , Matheus Cunha or Endricks .
The African representative s have a back log of injury worries which may disturb their tactical play as most of their star players have been ruled out of this years Mundial
Center back Nahef Auguard , wingwr Abde Ezzalzoulo will both miss the World Cup and have been teplat by Al Fateh s , Marwane Saadine and Anger s Amine Sbai .
Achasraf Hakimi , Captain is available for todays dare hostilities, with his over lapping capabilities. while a three man fluid atracking option to dislodge the almaot flat footed Brazilian rear guard with Brahim Diaz, Bayern Munich s Sabre as well as Bilal El Khannouss for a near perfect fluidity in the attack .
Prediction s .
I dont think that any right thinking football pundit will believe that the Moroccans will have an edge over the Brazilian s in todays opening Group C game , todays match seemt to be the most serious and tension packed to be played since June 11 first opening games in Mexico .
An upset is llikely but will a bit difficult for the African representative s who beat Brazil in a friendly match lately .
However , Brazil seems to be the favorite s to win especially with the massive presmece of Don Carlo Ancellotti in charge, we expect a free flowing Selecao team to punish a flat footed as well as an in -exprienced back line , already hit with high injury list .
Brazil 2-1 Morocco or Brazil 3-1 Morocco .
Happy Viewing ,Happy World Cup 2026 at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
UcheFreetips (C) 2026 .
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