Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its World Cup opener behind Vinícius Júnior's goal

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Samba soccer this wasn't.

Facing pressure to win its first World Cup title since 2002, five-time champion Brazil was outplayed early and needed Vinícius Júnior's 32nd-minute goal to gain a 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday in a pulsating, high-profile group match.

“We started on a really bad note,” Vinícius said through a translator. “For certain, we got to hold on to the ball. We have to move better.”

A semifinalist four years ago, Morocco had 12 shots in the first 30 minutes and went ahead on Ismael Saibari's 21st-minute goal, a chip over goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

“The team was a bit anxious at the beginning. Nerves were all over the place,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said through a translator. “A very imbalanced team.”

Brazil evened the score 11 minutes later. Vinícius exchanged passes with Bruno Guimarães on the left flank, took a few touches to cut around Neil El Aynaoui and rifled a right-footed shot past the outstretched arm of Yassine Bounou for his 10th international goal.

“We are satisfied with the draw,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. "We are not euphoric.”

Fans in Brazil's canary yellow dominated the crowd of 80,663 at MetLife Stadium — only about five sections near the south goal had fans in Morocco's red.

Seleção supporters expected the flowing, entertaining play of Pelé’s era and were subdued before Vinícius evened the score with his spectacular angled effort.

Brazil extended its unbeaten streak in World Cup openers to 21, including 17 wins, since a 1934 loss to Spain. No. 6 Brazil and seventh-ranked Morocco are the only top 10 teams to meet in the first round of the expanded 48-nation World Cup tournament.

“We cannot lose heart,” Ancelotti said. “You don’t win a World Cup based on your first match.”

Brazil plays Haiti on Friday in Philadelphia, then closes Group C against Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco faces Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, then meets Haiti in Atlanta.

Brazil star Neymar, recovering from a torn right calf, didn’t dress for the game.

One hour before the match, an Uber from Times Square to the stadium, site of next month's final, was $126.95 — up from $83.95 for advance booking for the same time Sunday.

Ancelotti, the Italian who became Brazil's first foreign World Cup coach, wore a three-piece suit with a necktie on a sunny afternoon with a 88-degree Fahrenheit (31-degree Celsius) temperature for the 6 p.m. start.

Morocco went ahead after Lucas Paquetá lost control of a short pass from Roger Ibañez and knocked it off Bilal El Khannouss. It bounced to Noussair Mazraoui, who sent the ball to Brahim Díaz in the center circle.

His through pass split Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinho, and Saibari ran onto the ball at the top of the arc. Alisson was slow to come off his line as Saibari scored his 10th international goal.

Morocco nearly went back ahead in the ninth of 10 minutes of stoppage time. Alisson spilled Aynaoui's long-range shot, which was headed wide, then while on the grass leaned back toward the goal and used his right hand to block Ayoube Amaimouni's follow-up effort.

“We still have to improve,” Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said. “We have to keep the positive things. We’re going to learn from the mistakes, for sure.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Brazil's fans sing while watching the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Morocco during a public watch party in Central Park, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (1) punches the ball away from Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes (3) as Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi (6), Chadi Riad (18) and Issa Diop get in on the play during the World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates a goal iduring the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil's Douglas Santos, left, challenges Morocco's Achraf Hakimi during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Brazil during the World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Brazil during the World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates a goal in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) reacts after being tripped in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — When Brazil found itself trailing Morocco in each team's World Cup opener and the crowd full of yellow-clad Seleção fans went from nervously quiet to stunned silent on Saturday night, Vinícius Júnior was there to bring the life back with a highlight-reel moment.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old left winger passed the ball to Bruno Guimarães to draw in three defenders and then did the rest himself. Vinícius deked around Neil El Aynaoui and fired a right-footed shot through Morocco’s defense and into the far corner of the net past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

"We had to adapt as fast as possible because they scored on us too early, and it completely changed our way of play," Vinícius said through an interpreter. “After they scored a goal against us, we were able to react very quickly and we scored a goal,"

The crowd-pleasing goal for more than 75,000 in attendance provided enough offense to earn Brazil a 1-1 draw in the only group stage match of the tournament between teams in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings. Coach Carlo Ancelotti caught some criticism for not playing teenager Endrick, and adjustments are coming, but Vinícius was a difference-maker at the start of his second World Cup.

"He did well," Ancelotti said. "He was dangerous, and I think he has everything in his power to have a good World Cup.”

The player nicknamed Viní thinks he has better to show in the tournament. Coming off scoring 16 goals in 36 games with Real Madrid, he had the ball on several occasions against Morocco in position to create scoring chances.

“I believe I can improve a lot," Vinícius said. “I was able to score the goal, but I’m not yet at 100% of my technical skill. I can improve on that and help Brazil on the attacking.”

The goal by Vinícius was his first in a head-to-head matchup against Achraf Hakimi, internationally or in club play with Real Madrid. Hakimi is Morocco's captain and has played for Paris Saint-Germain since 2021.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi called it a team defensive blunder.

“Vinícius, obviously he’s a great player,” Ouahbi said through an interpreter. “But we didn’t have enough players in the zone at the time. We had lost the ball suddenly, and they counterattacked, so it was much harder to defend. And when you’re up against Vinícius, well, it’s hard to defend together.”

Vinícius scored in his 50th game playing for Brazil's national team. Vinícius credited Ancelotti for knowing him so well.

“He helps me adapt as quickly as possible to my team, and he gives me the importance that I need and deserve,” Vinícius said. “God willing, I’ll do more for him.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, right, fails to stop a shot from Brazil's Vinicius Junior who scores his side first goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates a goal in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior, right, dribbles past Morocco's Neil El Aynaoui during the World Cup Group C soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates a goal in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) battles for posession against Morocco's Achraf Hakimi (2) in the first half during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)