The kickoff of the national journey towards the sixth championship takes place this Saturday (13), when Brazilian players face the Moroccan team in Group C of the global tournament. The opening clash is scheduled for 7pm, Brasília time, and will take place on the MetLife Stadium lawn, located in the city of East Rutherford, in the US state of New Jersey.
The match marks Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti’s first experience on the pitch in a FIFA competition of this size. Without being able to count on number 10 Neymar, who continues in the process of physical rehabilitation due to a calf muscle problem, the offensive sector will rely on the agility of the trio formed by Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha. Further back, protection and distribution of plays will be the responsibility of Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães.
On the other side of the field, the North African squad arrives in the United States, boasting the title of the main force on their continent today. After making history by reaching the semifinals in Qatar and finishing in fourth place overall — an unprecedented feat for African teams —, the group maintained the solid foundation that surprised the planet by eliminating European powers. The opposing squad is placing its hopes on consolidated talents, such as full-back Achraf Hakimi, midfielder Brahim Díaz and experienced goalkeeper Bono.
Tactical formations prepared by coaches for the clash
The tactical scheme chosen by Carlo Ancelotti should follow the 4-2-3-1 design, sending the following starters onto the field: Alisson under the goalposts; a defensive line with Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Alex Sandro; the midfielder duo Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães; in addition to Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá and Vinícius Júnior supporting center forward Matheus Cunha.
Under the guidance of commander Mohamed Ouahbi, the Moroccans must also mirror the 4-2-3-1 system. The expected starting line-up has Bono in goal; Hakimi, Diop (with Riad running on the outside), Mazraoui and a fourth defender to be defined; Bouaddi and El Aynaoui in contention; Brahim Díaz, Ounahi and Saibari in the creative sector; while Rahimi competes for the isolated spot in attack with Sbai.
History of clashes points to fierce rivalry in recent years
Statistical records indicate South American dominance in the past, evidenced by the 3-0 triumphs during the World Cup in France and 2-0 in a match in 1997. However, the scenario has changed recently, as the Africans came out on top by winning 2-1 in a preparatory game played in the 2023 season. Today’s meeting breaks a gap of almost three decades without official matches between the two nations in football’s top tournament.
Importance of three points in the opening round of the tournament
Achieving a positive result right away guarantees the provisional leadership of the group, which also includes the presence of Haiti and Scotland, providing peace of mind for the coaching staff to save worn-out athletes in the following commitments. On the opponents’ side, beating one of the big favorites for the title would send a clear message that the brilliant campaign of the last cycle was not an isolated case. The performance in the opening ninety minutes will act as a litmus test to evaluate the Italian coach’s first months of work.
Broadcast options to follow the match on television and the internet
- Open signal: Fans can tune in to TV Globo or SBT programming.
- Subscription channels: Closed television coverage is provided by the broadcasters SporTV and NSports.
- Digital platforms: Access via the internet occurs through ge TV services (within Globoplay), CazéTV on YouTube and other partner applications.
Those who prefer to read play by play will find constant and detailed updates on the ge sports pages, the UOL portal and the Lance! website.
The arbitration will be conducted by the Slovenian Slavko Vinčić, a professional known in sports for issuing a high number of disciplinary warnings. This characteristic of the referee requires extra caution from Brazilian defenders and full-backs, especially when stopping the fast offensive transitions characteristic of the opposing team.
