Brazil are set to begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a match against Morocco, a side that earned widespread recognition at the 2022 World Cup after defeating Spain and Portugal on their way to the semi-finals. Morocco will be aiming to build on that achievement, but Brazil enter the fixture as the favourites despite the absence of Neymar.
The five-time world champions are expected to field a strong starting XI, with several experienced internationals available across all areas of the pitch. Neymar’s absence is likely to result in changes to Brazil’s attacking structure, but the squad still retains significant depth.
Matheus Cunha is expected to be considered as Neymar’s replacement in the line-up. In attacking positions behind the striker, Raphinha is expected to operate on the right flank, while Vinícius Júnior is likely to feature on the left. Lucas Paquetá is projected to take on the primary creative role as the team’s advanced playmaker.
In midfield, Casemiro is expected to partner Bruno Guimarães in a defensive pairing designed to provide both protection and ball progression. The defensive unit is likely to feature Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães in central defence, with Danilo and Douglas occupying the full-back positions. Alisson Becker is expected to start in goal.
Morocco are also dealing with injury concerns ahead of the match. The team’s leading centre-back, Nayef Aguerd, is unavailable due to a pubalgia-related problem. In his absence, Issa Diop and Chadi Riad are expected to form the central defensive partnership.
There are additional fitness concerns within the Moroccan squad. Noussair Mazraoui remains doubtful because of a shoulder injury, while Ez Abde has suffered a moderate knee ligament injury and is expected to miss the entire group stage.
Despite those setbacks, Morocco still possess several established international players, including Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi, all of whom are expected to play key roles in the team’s opening match.
Expected Starting XIs
| Brazil | Morocco |
|---|---|
| Alisson | Bono |
| Douglas | Mazraoui |
| Marquinhos | Issa Diop |
| Gabriel Magalhães | Chadi Riad |
| Danilo | Achraf Hakimi |
| Casemiro | Nabil El Aynaoui |
| Bruno Guimarães | Amine Bouadi |
| Vinícius Júnior | Bilal El Khannouss |
| Raphinha | Azzedine Ounahi |
| Lucas Paquetá | Brahim Díaz |
| Igor Thiago | Ilias Saibari |
Key Team News
| Team | Update |
|---|---|
| Brazil | Neymar unavailable for the match. |
| Brazil | Matheus Cunha considered as a replacement option. |
| Morocco | Nayef Aguerd unavailable due to a pubalgia issue. |
| Morocco | Noussair Mazraoui doubtful with a shoulder injury. |
| Morocco | Ez Abde expected to miss the group stage because of a knee ligament injury. |
The match will mark the opening World Cup fixture for both sides. Brazil are expected to rely on a blend of experienced defenders, established midfielders and attacking talent, while Morocco will seek to overcome injury concerns and continue the competitive form that carried them to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Based on the available squad information, both teams are expected to field their strongest possible line-ups from the players currently available.