The Brazilian team debuts in the 2026 World Cup this Saturday (13) against Morocco, at MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford (USA). Revealed by Cruzeiro and runner-up in the Premier League for Brentford with 22 goals this season, 24-year-old Igor Thiago appears as one of Carlo Ancelotti’s main bets for the attack without Neymar, who remains injured in his calf.
Born in Gama (DF), the tall 1.91m center forward has already scored two goals in three games for the Seleção and stands out for his strength in the area, positional intelligence and eye for goal. He is at the peak of his career after spells at Ludogorets and Club Brugge before arriving in England.
Where to watch Brazil vs Morocco live
The clash, in the first round of Group C and scheduled for 7pm (Brasília time), will be broadcast on open TV by Globo and SBT. On subscription and pay-per-view channels, SporTV and NSports show. In streaming, CazéTV on YouTube, ge TV and Globoplay also show the game live.
Igor Thiago as an important piece in Ancelotti’s strategy
The likely starting lineup has Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Alex Sandro; Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães; Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá, Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha. Igor Thiago, who has already been tested as a starter in recent friendlies, remains the main option on the bench to enter the second half and explore aerial balls or counterattacks, bringing a physical presence in the area.
On the Morocco side, coach Mohamed Ouahbi chooses Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riyadh and Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui and Ounahi; Brahim Díaz, Saibari and Rahimi. The African team, semi-finalist in 2022, relies on compact defense and quick transitions.
From Cruzeiro to the dream of the hexa with Igor Thiago
At 24 years old, Igor Thiago is experiencing his first World Cup after his meteoric rise in Europe. He praises the importance of reserves and sees the tournament as an opportunity to show that Brazil has high-level options in attacking command. A victory on his debut relieves the pressure and paves the way for him to earn minutes in the campaign for a sixth title, alongside youngsters like Endrick and Rayan.
The Brazilian fans, who are expected to fill MetLife, see the center forward as a symbol of renewal: tall, a goalscorer and ready to decide when called upon.
