FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil joins Morocco as its quest for a future worthy of its past continues

The last sentence of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby reads: “So we sail on, boats against the current, carried back ceaselessly into the past.”

Few football nations understand the struggle to move forward while anchored in the past better than Brazil. Every World Cup campaign is measured by ghosts in canary yellow shirts.

Morocco arrived without such a burden, but with the momentum of a generation determined to transcend the borders it has already torn down. In East Rutherford, history and opportunity shared the same pitch, and neither could get past the other.

Brazil’s last World Cup match on American soil was famous: its victory in the 1994 final, where that team’s ultra-defensive approach defeated Italy, who had current Selecao coach Carlo Ancelotti as assistant manager.

AS IT HAPPENED: Brazil vs Morocco Highlights, 2026 World Cup

Here, in the heat of the early evening, the sea of ​​canary yellow in the stands far exceeded the red of Morocco, as members of the Brazilian diaspora from the tri-state area showed up in large numbers.

But the Moroccans wasted little time in silencing the partisan crowd, forcing Brazil back, with Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz effectively combining on the right flank.

The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari nonchalantly lifted the ball over an onrushing Alisson Becker, having passed a pursuing Gabriel Magalhães after Diaz had put a measured ball in his step.

But just minutes after the hydration break, a moment of individual brilliance from Vinicius Junior restored parity and brought life back to the previously stunned Brazilian fans. The Real Madrid striker played a one-two with Bruno Guimaraes on the left flank before dropping his shoulder and firing a curling right-foot shot into the top right corner to make it 1-1.

The equalizer changed the momentum. In the first minute of stoppage time, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had to make a reflex-acrobatic save to keep out Lucas Paqueta’s sumptuous side volley as he fired towards the bottom corner.

As the second half progressed, Morocco retreated into a significantly deeper defensive block, inviting Brazil forward as they looked to strike on the counter.

That approach almost paid off with 15 minutes remaining when the Atlas Lions carved out two openings in quick succession, first from the left and then from the right. However, Brazil’s defense held firm on both occasions.

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An errant back pass from Issa Diop then gave Raphinha almost a clear run on goal, but Bounou quickly recognized the danger and ran off his line to take advantage of the opportunity. At the other end, Neil El Aynaoui forced Alisson into a diving save to his left, and the Liverpool goalkeeper was deft enough to push Ayoube’s successor Amaimouni-Echghouyab away again for a corner.

Neither side could find the decisive breakthrough. But for Morocco, a point against one of the tournament favorites was another sign of the team’s growing status. For Brazil, the search for a future worthy of the past continues.

Published on June 14, 2026