Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram When Morocco face Brazil in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they will be standing across from the most successful national team in football history.
Brazil’s famous yellow jersey carries five stars above its badge, representing World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. No other nation has won the tournament more times than Seleção. Generations of legendary players from Pelé and Romário to Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have helped build the Seleção’s global reputation.
On paper, Brazil remains one of the favorites to lift the trophy in North America. Yet history also shows that the aura surrounding the five-time world champions has often been greater than their actual World Cup performances over the last two decades.
Over two decades of struggle
Brazil’s last World Cup title came in 2002. Since then, the South American giants have spent 24 years trying, and failing, to return to the top of world football.
Since winning the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Brazil have reached only one semi-final, on home soil in 2014. That campaign ended in one of the most shocking results in football history: a 7-1 defeat to Germany in Belo Horizonte.
In other editions, Brazil repeatedly fell short despite arriving as favorites. In 2006, Eliminated by France in the quarter-finals, 2010 eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, 2014 crushed by a Germany win 7-1 in the semi-finals on home soil, 2018 eliminated by Belgium in the quarter-finals; and in the last Qatar World Cup 2022, it was eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals on penalties.
For a nation accustomed to winning World Cups, those results have been deeply not promising.
Stars with lack of invincibility
The current Brazilian squad remains loaded with talent.
Vinicius Junior is among the best attackers in the world. Raphinha enjoyed an outstanding season at club level, while players such as Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Marquinhos and Alisson bring experience and quality.
However, many observers believe this Brazil side does not possess the same aura as the teams led by Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho or Kaká.
Adding to their concerns, Neymar’s participation in the opening match against Morocco remains uncertain as he continues to recover from a calf injury. Right-back Wesley has already been ruled out of the tournament, forcing changes to Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.
Morocco proven team
Unlike previous generations, Morocco enters this match without any reason to feel inferior.
The Atlas Lions shocked the world at the 2022 World Cup by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals. Along the way, they defeated Belgium, Spain and Portugal while conceding very few goals, 5 goals in total.
Today, Morocco’s squad includes world-class players who feature in top clubs, including Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou, Brahim Diaz, Ismail Saibari and rising talents such as Ayyoub Bouaddi and Neil El Aynaoui.
Even with injury concerns surrounding Abdessamad Ezzalzouli and Noussair Mazraoui, the Atlas Lions possess enough depth and experience to challenge any opponent.
Can Morocco intimidate Brazil?
The question before the match may not be whether Brazil can intimidate Morocco, but whether Morocco can unsettle Brazil.
Brazil know they are facing a disciplined, organized and confident team that has already beaten them once in recent years, 2-1 in a historic international friendly match on March 25, 2023, and has built a reputation for frustrating football’s biggest nations.
Bruno Guimarães’ recent comments praising Morocco are a sign that Brazil are taking the Atlas Lions very seriously.
The pressure will also be greater on the Seleção. Expectations in Brazil are always enormous, and another disappointing World Cup campaign would be heavily criticized by supporters and media alike.
An intense World Cup opener
Brazil remain favorites because of their attacking quality and tournament experience.
But the gap between the two teams is nowhere near as large as it was a decade ago.
The five stars on Brazil’s jersey represent a glorious past, but as the records show, it is a past that can not frighten a generation of top players who focus on the present and are guided by a coach who does not believe in sentiment, recognizing only hard work and the ability to deliver results.
If Morocco can reproduce the defensive discipline and fighting spirit that carried them to the semi-finals in Qatar, Brazil could find themselves facing another difficult World Cup night.
Prediction
Brazil’s individual talent makes them slight favorites, but Morocco have the structure, confidence and experience to cause an upset.
Prediction: Morocco 1-1 Brazil, with the Atlas Lions having a realistic chance of claiming all three points.
