Lineup confirmed: Mazraoui reinforces Moroccan defense against Brazil in the debut of the 2026 World Cup
The team led by Carlo Ancelotti will play its first match in the 2026 World Cup this Saturday (13), facing the Moroccan team on the lawn of the MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, in the United States. For this initial clash, the opposing coach gains immense relief in the defensive sector with the confirmation of Noussair Mazraoui among the starters. The 28-year-old athlete, who currently defends the colors of Manchester United, recently overcame a shoulder dislocation acquired during a preparatory match and received approval from the medical department to play, offering an experienced barrier against the Brazilian offensive sector, which will not have the presence of Neymar in this edition.
Born in the Dutch city of Leiderdorp, the defender chose to represent his family’s origins and built a respected trajectory on the European continent, accumulating successful spells with giants such as Ajax and Bayern Munich before arriving in England in 2024. Internationally recognized for his physical explosiveness, ability to support the attack with precision and extreme tactical versatility, being able to play both on the flanks and as a central defender, the player arrives in North America with the status of national hero. He was one of the main cogs in the squad that shocked the planet by achieving an unprecedented fourth place in the tournament held in Qatar, in 2022.
Channels and digital platforms that broadcast the opening clash of Group C
The starting whistle for this eagerly awaited duel, valid for the first round of the group stage, is scheduled for 7pm, considering the Brasília time zone. Fans who wish to follow every step of this international dispute will have a wide range of broadcast options available on national territory:
- Open television: Free coverage will be the responsibility of the Globo and SBT networks.
- Closed channels and pay-per-view: Subscribers will be able to tune in to SporTV and the NSports schedule.
- Streaming platforms: The internet will feature live broadcasts through CazéTV on YouTube, in addition to the ge TV portal and the Globoplay app.
African tactical scheme bets on the full-back’s solidity to nullify the Brazilian wingers
The formation designed by coach Ouahbi should take to the field with Bono protecting the goal, accompanied by a defensive line made up of Hakimi, Diop, Riad and Mazraoui himself. The midfield will feature the trio of Bouaddi, El Aynaoui and Ounahi, while the creative sector will be supported by Brahim Díaz, Saibari and Rahimi. Regardless of whether he is played on the edge of the field or centralized, the number 3’s main mission will be to stop the sharp attacks of Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha, as well as guaranteeing a clean ball to break the marking lines imposed by Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães.
On the green and yellow side, Italian Carlo Ancelotti will send his maximum available force onto the field, structuring the team with Alisson in goal, protected by Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Alex Sandro. Containment and distribution in the middle will be the responsibility of Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães, serving a fast offensive quartet made up of Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá, Vinícius Júnior and center forward Matheus Cunha. The South American strategy necessarily involves widening the field and exploring the edges, requiring extra caution to avoid running into the strong physical block that the Manchester United defender usually imposes in his sector.
Expectation of a new memorable journey for the North African team
Carrying with him the experience of competing in the most intense leagues on the planet, the Moroccan athlete is going through the peak of his professional maturity and sees the tournament based in North America as the ideal stage to consolidate his name in history. His medical recovery in record time injects an extra dose of confidence into the Atlas Lions’ squad, who are looking to take points from Brazil to start with an advantage in Group C, a group that still holds clashes against the teams of Haiti and Scotland. A positive result right from the start could be the fuel needed for the team to repeat the extraordinary feats achieved in the last world cycle.
The MetLife Stadium stands will be colored red and green, with a passionate crowd that places its hopes on the physical delivery and technical refinement of its main defender to neutralize the five-time champion’s favoritism. More than a simple backline player, he represents the essence of a golden generation that transformed the level of sport in his country, combining unshakable tactical discipline with a resilience capable of frustrating the biggest powers in global football.
