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Rabat – Brazil and Morocco’s thrilling 1-1 draw at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has made history off the field, becoming the most-watched non-US men’s World Cup group-stage match ever on English-language television in the United States.
According to FOX Sports, the Group C clash attracted an average audience of 10.019 million viewers, more than tripling the average audience for non-US group-stage matches during the 2022 World Cup.
The broadcast also peaked at 13.119 million viewers between 7:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. This reflects the global appeal of both teams and the excitement surrounding the tournament. Viewership was up 212% compared to the 2022 average of 3.21 million viewers.
The match itself lived up to the hype, as it delivered an entertaining and closely contested battle between one of football’s biggest powers and one of its fastest-rising teams.
Morocco made a confident start and deservedly took the lead in the 21st minute through Ismael Saibari after an impressive opening spell. The Atlas Lions looked organized, fearless, and dangerous going forward, forcing Brazil onto the back foot for long periods of the first half. Brazil eventually responded through Vinicius Junior, who scored the equalizer to ensure the teams went into halftime level.
The second half remained competitive, with the two sides creating chances but neither able to find a winner. Morocco defended with discipline while continuing to threaten on the counterattack, earning widespread acclaim from fans and football analysts for matching Brazil in almost every area of the game. Many observers felt Morocco could even have claimed all three points after another mature performance on the world stage.
Read also: Brazil Legend Romario: ‘Morocco Dominated Brazil and Controlled the Midfield’
While Morocco’s display received widespread admiration, Brazil’s performance sparked criticism. The five-time world champions struggled to control midfield, looked vulnerable defensively, and failed to impose their usual attacking style. Several pundits criticized Brazil’s lack of organization, with individual performances from parts of the defense and midfield coming under scrutiny after Morocco repeatedly exposed gaps in the team.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side did not perform at its best but urged patience, reminding critics that “you don’t win a World Cup based on your first match.” He acknowledged that his players appeared nervous early on but expressed confidence that the team would improve as the tournament progresses.
For Morocco, the result strengthened the growing belief that the Atlas Lions remain among the world’s elite teams after their historic run at the 2022 World Cup. Their composed display against Brazil showed they are capable of competing with football’s biggest nations and reinforced their status as serious contenders in Group C. The team will be locking horns with Scotland on Thursday.
