LOS ANGELES — Five-time winner Brazil needed a superb Vinicius Junior equalizer to draw 1-1 with Morocco in New Jersey in their opening game at the World Cup on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), as one of the standout group-stage matchups lived up to its promise.
On the first day featuring four matches at the 48-team tournament, Qatar won the first World Cup point in their history when Miro Muheim’s own goal earned the 2022 tournament hosts a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Santa Clara.
Later Scotland and their Tartan Army of supporters make their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence as they took on Haiti, who last appeared at a finals in 1974, in Boston.
Australia face Turkey in Vancouver to close out the day.
The meeting of Brazil and 2022 semifinalists Morocco at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City was a clash of the teams ranked sixth and seventh in the world, respectively.
Ismael Saibari ran through to give Morocco a 21st-minute lead with a clever scoop in the Group C opener, but Vinicius produced a moment of magic to ensure Brazil came away with a point.
Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy, but Saturday’s performance suggests there is a lot of work to be done by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
“The first game is always very difficult, but we need to get better,” admitted Vinicius.
“We need to do less talking and work harder because the next game will come around fast.”
Brazil have turned to the hugely successful Ancelotti in a bid to end the country’s title drought. He is the first foreign coach to lead the Selecao at football’s biggest tournament.
A fifth-placed finish in South American qualifying underlined the scale of the challenge facing the Italian. However, he insists Brazil possess a squad capable of competing with anyone in the competition.
He was without Neymar for Saturday’s game, with Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer still recovering from a calf injury, having not played for his country since 2023.
Saibari, of PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, made the breakthrough for Morocco when he latched onto a fine pass from Brahim Diaz and beat the advancing Alisson Becker with a clinical chipped finish.
Brazil drew level 11 minutes later through Vinicius, who will have a vital role to play if they are to shine in North America.
