Morocco earned a valuable 1-1 draw against Brazil in their World Cup opener.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was left frustrated by his side’s performance after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The highly anticipated encounter saw the Atlas Lions produce another impressive display against one of football’s traditional powerhouses, to earn a valuable point.
Morocco stunned the five-time world champions by taking the lead through Ismael Saibari after an intelligent attacking move.
Brazil struggled to impose itself early on but found a way back into the match thanks to individual brilliance from Vinicius Junior.
The Real Madrid winger collected a pass from Bruno Guimaraes inside the penalty area before cutting onto his right foot and unleashing a powerful effort that flew past Yassine Bounou.
Ancelotti admits disappointment
Speaking after the final whistle, Ancelotti did not hide his concerns over Brazil’s display, particularly during the opening period.
“I think we didn’t start very well; I’m a little worried,” the Italian coach admitted.
He continued, “We lost a lot of duels and possession, but we improved in the second half of a difficult match because Morocco is a very good team.”
The veteran manager felt his side struggled to cope with Morocco’s aggressive pressing game.
He added, “In the first half, we had difficulty getting out of their press, and we could have had more control of the game.”
While pleased with the improvement after the interval, Ancelotti acknowledged that the overall performance fell below expectations.
“Am I satisfied? Not really. I expected a better start. But these things can happen, and now my focus is on the next game,” he said.
Brazil will now look to secure their first victory of the tournament when they face Haiti in Philadelphia on June 20.
Morocco, meanwhile, will seek to build on their positive start when they take on Scotland.