Brazil after the draw with Morocco: Ancelotti's favorite is already searching for balance, while pressure shifts to Neymar, Casemiro and Endrick
Brazil opened the 2026 World Cup with a result that does not necessarily have to be an alarm in itself, but the performance in the 1:1 draw against Morocco immediately raised questions that Carlo Ancelotti must solve without delay. According to FIFA's official report, Morocco took the lead in the 21st minute through Ismael Saibari, while Vinícius Júnior equalized in the 32nd minute and earned Brazil a point in the first match of Group C. The match was played on June 13, 2026, at the New York/New Jersey stadium, that is, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, where two opponents met who, before the tournament, had the status of serious candidates for a high finish. Brazil entered the tournament with the reputation of a five-time world champion and with a coach whose club experience is exceptional, but the first image on the biggest stage was not the image of a stable team. Morocco, relying on the confidence from previous major competitions, showed that it is an opponent that is not satisfied with the role of outsider.
The draw against Morocco did not leave Brazil without room for improvement, but it did leave them without the comfort that usually follows favorites after opening matches. According to FIFA's schedule, Brazil continues the group by playing Haiti in Philadelphia, and then Scotland in Miami, so the room for maneuver is still sufficiently wide. Still, the impression from the first match is important because the problems were not limited only to missed chances or isolated mistakes. Brazil looked slow in building attacks for long periods, vulnerable in midfield and insufficiently connected between the lines, especially in the first half. That is precisely why the debate after the draw did not remain focused on the result, but expanded to the team's structure, the role of veterans, Neymar's status and the increasingly loud demands for Endrick to receive more minutes.
Morocco first showed where Brazil is cracking
Morocco's plan against Brazil was clear enough and brave enough to expose weaknesses that are sometimes hidden behind individual quality in favorites. According to The Guardian's match report, Brazil spent large parts of the first half chasing the opponent, while Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães had problems controlling the Moroccan midfield. The role of the young Ayyoub Bouaddi was especially highlighted, as his performance gave Morocco rhythm and security in the zone where Brazil expected dominance. That is particularly unpleasant for Ancelotti because his idea of Brazil does not rest only on an attractive attack, but also on stability between the midfield and defensive lines. When that stability is absent, Brazilian attackers remain dependent on individual moves.
Saibari's goal in the 21st minute was not just a statistical detail, but an indicator that Morocco can attack the space behind the Brazilian structure and force the favorites into a reaction. FIFA stated in its summary that Saibari and Vinícius Júnior scored exceptional goals, but the wider context was different for the two teams. For Morocco, the goal confirmed that its approach made sense, while for Brazil it served as a warning that possession and reputation mean little if the team does not control the rhythm of the match. Brazil gained more confidence after the equalizer, but did not manage to completely reverse the psychology of the duel. Morocco remained organized, physically ready and tactically disciplined enough to withstand periods of Brazilian pressure.
For Brazil, the problem was also the way in which the midfield and attack struggled to connect. When a team has Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Rodrygo and other players capable of creating a one-on-one advantage, it is expected that the attack will constantly produce danger. Against Morocco, that happened only occasionally. Vinícius found a moment of quality in the 32nd minute and brought Brazil back into the match, but that goal did not hide the fact that the team was not regularly getting into clear situations. In its analysis of the course of the encounter, The Guardian pointed out that Morocco seemed more satisfied with the final outcome, while the Brazilians looked tired after the end, which describes well the psychological difference between a point won and a point lost.
Casemiro as a symbol of a broader problem in midfield
Most of the criticism after the match expectedly went toward the midfield, and Casemiro found himself at the center of the debate. According to The Guardian's report, Ancelotti substituted him at halftime, together with Roger Ibañez, after both had received yellow cards in the first half. The substitution itself does not have to mean a loss of trust, but in the context of Brazil's play it looked like an admission that the initial plan was not working. Casemiro has for years been a midfielder with enormous experience, but against Morocco he did not look like the safety lock who closes space and speeds up the first distribution of the ball. When a player of that profile struggles, the whole team becomes more exposed.
Ancelotti's dilemma is not only personal, but also structural. If Brazil wants to play with a large number of technically gifted attackers, the midfield must cover space, give security to the defense and quickly release the ball toward the wings. Against Morocco, those tasks were too often separated instead of complementing one another. Fabinho's introduction brought a certain stabilization, but it did not erase the question that will follow Brazil: should Ancelotti remain with the veteran axis or accelerate the transition toward a more mobile midfield.
According to El País, Ancelotti admitted after the match that the first half had been unexpected and that the pressure of wearing the Brazilian shirt at the opening of the World Cup could have affected the players' mental state. That statement is important because it shifts the discussion from the mere selection of the starting eleven to the team's ability to cope with the weight of expectations. At every World Cup, Brazil does not play only against opponents, but also against the history of its own successes. FIFA reminds that Brazil is the only national team that has appeared at all World Cups and that it has won the title five times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Such a burden can be a source of identity, but also a source of nervousness when the opening match does not go according to plan.
Neymar remains a big question even without taking the field
Neymar did not play against Morocco, but his shadow was present in almost every discussion about Brazil's attack. According to Sports Illustrated, Ancelotti confirmed before the match that Neymar would miss the opener because of a calf injury, after he had already skipped the warm-up matches. FIFA had earlier announced that Neymar had been included in Brazil's squad for the 2026 World Cup, which made his return one of the main stories ahead of the tournament. However, there is a big difference between the symbolism of a return and an actual contribution. Brazil must decide how long it can wait for a player who still has the class to change a match, but whose availability and physical condition are not certain.
The debate about Neymar is no longer a simple division between those who adore him and those who want to write him off. It has become a question of the team's identity. If Neymar is fit enough, his ability to connect the lines, draw fouls and create superiority in central zones could bring Brazil exactly what was missing against Morocco. If he is not ready, the constant waiting for his return can make it harder for Ancelotti to build a clear hierarchy in attack. According to El País, which referred to information from the Brazilian federation, Neymar was not ready for the match against Haiti and his return is not expected before the knockout stage. Therefore, against Haiti and Scotland, Brazil cannot play as a team waiting for a savior, but as a team that has a plan.
Why Endrick is being mentioned more and more loudly
Endrick has become the logical symbol of the demand for a fresher, more direct and more aggressive version of Brazil. The young striker cannot solve the problems in midfield by himself, but his profile offers something that was missing against Morocco: attacking depth, decisiveness in finishing and energy that can change the rhythm of a match. According to the report by El País, part of the Brazilian sports public, after the draw with Morocco, is asking Ancelotti to consider Endrick's role more seriously, especially because the question of a classic number nine has not yet been fully resolved. Igor Thiago started against Morocco, but Brazil did not get enough constant threat in the center of the penalty area. In such an environment, every alternative becomes a topic, and Endrick the loudest among them.
The calls for Endrick do not arise only from his age or popularity. Against Morocco, Brazil often looked like a team that had width, but not enough verticality. When the wingers drop to receive the ball, and the midfield does not find timely passes behind the defense, it is easier for the opponent to maintain compactness. Endrick could open a different dynamic because his movement forces center-backs to turn toward their own goal. That does not mean he must immediately become a starter, but it does mean that Ancelotti must think about when and how he uses his energy. If Brazil again enters a match slowly and unconvincingly, the pressure to introduce Endrick earlier will be even greater.
Ancelotti is a coach who, during his career, has often built a balance between big names and functional roles. That is precisely why his decision about Endrick will not be only a response to public pressure, but a test of his assessment of what the team is truly missing. Brazil does not need youth merely for the sake of youth. It needs a clearer attacking architecture, in which it is known who attacks the near post, who comes between the lines, and who holds the width. Endrick can be a solution in that architecture if Ancelotti wants more directness. He can also be a powerful trump card from the bench if it is judged that the match should be opened more patiently.
Vinícius Júnior saved the point, but not the impression
Vinícius Júnior was Brazil's most important player in the draw with Morocco because his goal prevented a start that would have had far more serious consequences. FIFA named him player of the match, and in a separate text conveyed his message that Brazil wanted victory, that it must take the positive things from the encounter, but also that it can do better. That statement sums up well the position in which Brazil found itself. Individual quality exists, the reaction after conceding a goal also exists, but the performance as a whole was not at the expected level. Vinícius gave what great players must give in a difficult moment, but Brazil cannot depend in the long term only on flashes from the left side.
Precisely the relationship between Vinícius and the rest of the attack is one of the key topics for Ancelotti. Raphinha, Rodrygo, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, Igor Thiago and Endrick offer different profiles, but against Morocco a sufficiently clear division of responsibilities was not visible. If Vinícius must simultaneously be the main creator, the main scorer and the player who pulls the team out of a psychological hole, Brazil will become predictable even when it has top individual quality. For now, Brazil looks like a team that knows it has weapons, but has not yet shown that it can constantly choose the right one.
Vinícius's goal can be a foundation for growth if Ancelotti uses it as proof that the team has character, and not as an excuse to postpone problems. Against Morocco, it was visible that Brazil can accelerate when it receives an impulse, but not that it can impose a stable rhythm from the beginning. That is the difference between a team that survives difficult moments and a team that manages a tournament. With the point, Brazil remained in a good position, but the players and coaching staff must now show that they understood the warning.
Haiti as an opportunity and as a trap
Brazil's next opponent is Haiti, and on paper it is a match in which a victory and a more convincing performance are expected from the five-time world champion. According to FIFA's schedule, the encounter is played in Philadelphia, while Brazil finishes the group stage against Scotland in Miami. But precisely matches that look like an opportunity to improve the impression often carry a psychological trap. If Brazil takes an early lead, it can calm the pressure and regain rhythm. If it again struggles in building play, nervousness will grow faster than against Morocco, because the public expects clear dominance from such an encounter. Goal.com reminded in its match preview that Haiti lost 1:0 to Scotland in the first round, while Brazil against Morocco also had to thank Alisson for important late interventions.
According to the El País report, Ancelotti is considering changes so that Brazil can gain better balance, greater quality in possession and fewer passing errors. These are three points that against Haiti may be more important than the choice of striker itself. If Brazil loses balls in the early phase of attack, even an outsider can find transition situations. If the midfield is too slow, the attackers will again receive the ball with their backs to goal or in front of a packed defense. Therefore, the match with Haiti is not only an opportunity for points, but also a test of Ancelotti's ability to quickly fix what was bad in New Jersey.
In such an encounter, Haiti will probably seek discipline, compactness and moments for counterattacks, while Brazil must find a way not to turn patience into slowness. The draw with Morocco can be explained by the strength of the opponent, because Morocco has experience and quality and, according to FIFA, in 2022 became the first African national team in a World Cup semifinal. But a weak performance against Haiti would be harder to relativize. Therefore, a minimal victory is not enough for Brazil if the performance again leaves the same questions open.
A favorite that must prove it has more than status
Brazil still has enough quality for a deep tournament. It has a goalkeeper who can save difficult moments, a defense with experience, midfielders from the strongest European leagues and an attack that by name belongs to the very top of world football. It also has a coach who has won the biggest club trophies and who knows how to manage dressing rooms full of great players. However, the World Cup does not reward biographies, but real-time solutions. Ancelotti must now show whether he can quickly translate his club experience into an international rhythm, in which there are no months for fine-tuning and in which every match changes the mood around the team.
The key question is not whether Brazil will panic after the draw with Morocco, but whether it will react quickly enough. Casemiro's role must be clearer or defined differently. Neymar's status must stop being an uncertainty that hangs over every attacking choice. Endrick's minutes must be viewed through function, and not only through public expectations. Vinícius Júnior must get a system that will make him more dangerous, not more isolated. If Ancelotti manages to connect those elements, the draw against Morocco could remain only an early reminder that a favorite must be awake from the first round. If he does not, the same result could later be read as the first sign that Brazil at this tournament has more talent than balance.
Sources:
- FIFA – report on the Brazil – Morocco match (link)
- FIFA – Brazil's schedule in Group C (link)
- FIFA – announcement of Brazil's squad and Neymar's inclusion (link)
- FIFA – overview of Brazil's World Cup records (link)
- FIFA – Morocco profile and 2022 semifinal context (link)
- The Guardian – live report and analysis of the Brazil – Morocco match (link)
- El País – context ahead of the Brazil – Haiti match, Endrick and Neymar (link)
- Sports Illustrated – Neymar's absence against Morocco (link)
- Goal.com – preview of the Brazil – Haiti match (link)