Brazil puts its unbeaten World Cup opener streak on the line against Morocco
New York City, the site of the upcoming July 19 grand final, is set to host its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as tournament favorite Brazil takes on Morocco. The matchup carries significant weight, pitting the perennial powerhouse against the Moroccan side that made history in the last edition as the first African nation to reach the tournament semi-finals.
This is only the second time these two nations have met on the World Cup stage; Brazil claimed a 3-0 victory in France 1998, though in their most recent match Morocco turned the tables in a 2023 friendly, winning 2-1.
For the Brazilian squad, returning to U.S. soil brings a sense of nostalgia, as it was here in 1994 that they hoisted their fourth World Cup title after a dramatic penalty shootout win against Italy, a tournament where Morocco, by contrast, struggled, losing all three of their group matches.
Defending a Century of Dominance in Opening Matches
Many critics argue this current roster is among the less heralded in Brazil’s illustrious history, particularly given their recent record: since winning their fifth title in 2002, they have suffered four exits in the quarter-finals and a crushing semi-final defeat while hosting the tournament in 2014. Despite these labels, they are anything but underdogs when it comes to their opening fixture.
Brazil carries an extraordinary 92-year unbeaten streak in World Cup openers; their last defeat in an opening game was a 1-3 loss to Spain in 1934. In the 20 opening matches since that loss, they have been nearly automatic, securing 17 wins and 3 draws, while racking up 47 goals and conceding only 14.
To put this into perspective, the next closest team on that list is Mexico, which currently holds an 8-game unbeaten streak in openers, following their 2026 victory against South Africa.
The Ancelotti Challenge and the Road Ahead
Manager Carlo Ancelotti faces a historic “impossible” task: no country in the 22-edition history of the World Cup has ever won the trophy under the guidance of a foreign-born manager.
Led by global superstars Vinícius Jr., Raphinha, Casemiro, and Gabriel Magalhães, the squad is focused on clinching the top spot in their group to ensure a favorable path through the knockout stages.
Following this high-stakes opener against Morocco, the Seleção will travel to Philadelphia to face Haiti, before closing out their group stage campaign against Scotland in Miami. With the eyes of the world on the tournament favorite, the pressure is on Ancelotti to break the managerial “curse” and return Brazil to the pinnacle of global football