Brazil vs Morocco – latest news, line-ups, absences (13/06/2026)
Preview, team news, head-to-head, probable line-ups and where to watch Brazil vs Morocco in Group C at the 2026 World Cup
One of the standout fixtures of the opening round of matches at the 2026 World Cup takes place on Saturday when Brazil face Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. While Brazil arrive as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, Morocco are considered one of the dark horses after reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
The match kicks off at 23:00 BST and is arguably the most attractive contest of the opening weekend, with the other Group C duel sees Scotland take on Haiti.
Latest news: absences, form, team news
Brazil enter the tournament under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti and are targeting a sixth World Cup crown. The squad combines experience and talent, with leaders such as Neymar, Casemiro and Marquinhos complementing a group in around their prime led by Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha. The Brazilian side have won all their last three friendly games after a 2-1 loss at the hands of a superior France back in March.
Morocco arrive full of confidence after establishing themselves as one of the strongest national teams outside Europe and South America. Possessing quality throughout the pitch, the Atlas Lions continue to build on the momentum generated by their historic World Cup semi-final run in 2022. The Moroccan side haven’t lost a single game since August 2025, having won 25 of their last 29 matches across all competitions.
Brazil
Ancelotti has been forced into a defensive rethink after first-choice right-back Wesley withdrew from the squad with a thigh injury sustained during a friendly win against Egypt. He was replaced by Danilo, who is expected to take his spot in the starting line-up against Morocco.
Morocco
Morocco’s preparations concluded with a 1-1 draw against Norway. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has a settled squad built around Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and Brahim Díaz.
Mazraoui could be fit after suffering a shoulder injury against Norway. However, there was devastating news for Morocco after it was announced that Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd will miss the tournament – Abde picked up an injury in the recent friendly against Norway while Aguerd has been out since March with a groin problem. Defender Marwane Saadane and striker Amine Sbai have been called up in their places.
Teams H2H: Head-to-head stats
Brazil and Morocco have met on three previous occasions, with the Brazilian side having won the only official match between the two teams.
Previous meetings:
- 23/03/2023: Morocco 2-1 Brazil (Friendly)
- 20/06/1998: Brazil 3-0 Morocco (World Cup)
- 09/10/1997: Brazil 2-0 Morocco (Friendly)
Predicted line-ups
With Wesley unavailable, Brazil’s defensive structure remains the main selection uncertainty. Meanwhile, Anass Salah-Eddine could fill in for Mazraoui if needed and Issa Diop is expected to start alongside Chadi Riad at the back, while Soufiane Rahimi could cover for Abde.
Tactical analysis: Morocco’s counter-attack threat against Brazil
Brazil are expected to dominate possession, with Ancelotti likely to rely on the creativity of Raphinha and the directness of Vinícius Júnior to break down Morocco’s defence. The challenge for Brazil will be avoiding the kind of transitional situations that have troubled them in recent tournaments.
Morocco are considered one of the best counter-attacking teams in the tournament, with Hakimi and Mazraoui provide tremendous width, while Brahim has become increasingly influential between the lines. If Morocco manage to absorb pressure and spring forward quickly, they possess the weapons to cause problems.
Key players to watch
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
Brazil’s hopes of winning a sixth World Cup may depend heavily on Vinícius Júnior. The Real Madrid winger remains one of the most dangerous one-on-one players in world football and has increasingly become the focal point of Brazil’s attack, but it remains to be seen if he can hit top form during the tournament.
Brahim Díaz (Morocco)
Fresh from scoring against Norway, Vinícius’ Real Madrid teammate arrives in excellent form and appears ready to assume a leading role in a Morocco attack that will be missing Youssef En-Nesyri, who hasn’t been called up and fellow winger Abde, who misses the tournament through injury.
Where to watch Brazil vs Morocco in the UK and Ireland
Brazil vs Morocco kicks off at 23:00 BST on Saturday, June 13 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on ITV platforms, including ITVX.
In the Republic of Ireland, the game will be available through RTÉ’s World Cup coverage and RTÉ Player.
Market insights and probability predictions
The odds are in Brazil’s favour but this is one of the more competitive opening fixtures of the tournament. Current markets imply approximately a 58% to 62% chance of a Brazil victory, with Morocco carrying around a 17% to 20% chance of winning and the draw sitting close to 23%. The goals markets suggest a moderate expectation of goals, with over 2.5 goals priced slightly above even money.
Prediction: Brazil 2-1 Morocco
