Vinicius Junior salvaged a point for Brazil with a spectacular equaliser as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their World Cup 2026 Group C opener in New York. The Real Madrid winger cut inside and bent a wonderful strike into the top corner in the 32nd minute, cancelling out Ismael Saibari's composed first-half opener for Morocco.

Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was 'worried' by his side's performance, particularly their struggles in midfield during the opening period. Morocco dominated the first half with 12 shots before the break, exploiting the large distances between Brazil's midfield trio of Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi praised his team's performance against one of the tournament favourites, noting they still need to improve every game. The North Africans showed impressive balance between attacking intent and defensive resilience throughout the match.

This result leaves both teams level in Group C and demonstrates that Morocco can compete with traditional powerhouses. Brazil's vulnerability when losing possession raises concerns against stronger opposition, while Morocco's intensity suggests they could advance deep into the expanded 48-nation tournament.