Vinicius Spares Brazil's Blushes in 1-1 World Cup Draw With Morocco

Brazil arrived at the World Cup as five-time champions and left their opening night with a single point and a stack of questions. Vinicius Junior's brilliant equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday, papering over a nervy, disjointed display in New Jersey.

Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists and reigning African champions, were the better side for long stretches. They led through Ismael Saibari on 21 minutes, and only a moment of individual quality from Vinicius spared Carlo Ancelotti's team a damaging defeat in Group C.

Saibari's goal was made by Morocco's nerve. The PSV Eindhoven forward ran onto a sharp pass from Brahim Diaz, slipped between Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, and dinked a cool finish over the onrushing Alisson Becker. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi had told his players not to fear Brazil, and for half an hour they played like they believed it.

Then Vinicius did what Vinicius does. Eleven minutes after falling behind, the Real Madrid forward took a pass from Bruno Guimaraes on the left, cut back onto his right foot and hammered into the far corner past Yassine Bounou. It was the one piece of real class in a ragged Brazilian half.

It did not spark the avalanche many expected. Lucas Paqueta had an acrobatic effort tipped away before the break, and after it Bounou denied Igor Thiago, Raphinha and Danilo as Brazil pressed without ever finding a rhythm. Morocco almost stole the game at the death, Alisson parrying a fierce Neil El Aynaoui drive and scrambling to block Chemsdine Talbi's follow-up.

For Ancelotti, the Italian hired to end Brazil's wait for a sixth world title, 24 years on from the last in 2002, the night underlined how much rebuilding is left to do. He is the first foreign coach to take Brazil to a World Cup, handed the job after a fifth-place finish in South American qualifying that rattled a football nation. Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka, three of the 2002 winners, watched from the stands. The contrast with the side on the pitch was hard to miss.

Morocco will feel the draw is the lesser story. Ouahbi's team, the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final three years ago, controlled the tempo against the tournament favourites and might have won but for fine margins. In a 48-team field that has widened the road for outsiders, the Atlas Lions look like a team few will want to draw.

Brazil did it without Neymar, their all-time leading scorer, who is still working back from a calf injury and has not played for his country since 2023. His absence left Vinicius to carry the creative load, and on this evidence he will have to. Vinicius, still short of full sharpness, said afterwards he was not yet at 100% but expected to improve.

There is history on Brazil's side: they have not lost a World Cup opener since 1934. A point against Morocco, though, felt closer to a warning than a platform, another cagey result in a tournament full of them after the United States' 4-1 win over Paraguay and Canada's first-ever World Cup point. Brazil meet Haiti next and Morocco take on Scotland, Group C wide open and Ancelotti's side still hunting for the team they are meant to be.