As the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening round kicks off at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, two nations with storied World Cup legacies are preparing to face off Saturday night, with Brazilian stars and coaching staff acknowledging the unprecedented pressure on their side to end a 24-year title drought.\n\nBrazil enters the tournament with a unique historical advantage the squad is looking to protect: the five-time World Cup champions have not lost a World Cup opening match since 1934, holding an undefeated 19-match streak with 17 wins heading into Saturday’s fixture. For decades, Brazil’s dynamic samba-style soccer, led by global icons such as Pelé, made the iconic canary yellow jersey the benchmark that every other international side strived to emulate.\n\nBut that long-held reputation has been tainted by decades of underperformance. Brazil has not lifted the World Cup trophy since its 2002 victory, and has advanced past the quarterfinal stage just once since that run—a devastating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil in the 2014 tournament, a result that remains one of the most humiliating losses in the nation’s soccer history. For this year’s squad, the mission is clear: reclaim the global throne Brazil never should have lost, according to star striker Vinícius Júnior.\n\n”We’re here to try to change history, try to put Brazil back to where it never should have left, which is at the top,” Vinícius said Friday through an interpreter. “We are at the same level as the other major teams.”\n\nStanding in Brazil’s way in their opening match is Morocco, the seventh-ranked side in the world who made history as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in the 2022 tournament, falling 2-0 to eventual champions France. The Atlas Lions also secured the 2025 African Cup of Nations title in controversial fashion earlier this year: after a 1-0 loss to Senegal, Morocco was awarded a 3-0 forfeit win when Senegal’s team left the pitch for 15 minutes during stoppage time to protest a penalty call against them.\n\nBrazil currently sits sixth in the global FIFA rankings, just one spot ahead of Morocco, and Brazilian head coach Carlo Ancelotti — the first non-Brazilian to lead the Seleção at a World Cup — warned against underestimating the African side. The legendary coach, who took over the Brazilian national side in May 2025 after a trophy-laden club career in Europe, stressed that underdog status no longer exists in modern international soccer.\n\n”In modern football, there is no — how we say? — small-time team,” Ancelotti said through an interpreter. “They are definitely up to the task.”\n\nAncelotti, who has won a record five UEFA Champions League titles and is the only coach to claim top-flight league titles across all five of Europe’s major domestic competitions, carries enormous expectations back in Brazil. Brazilian starting goalkeeper Alisson Becker noted that the pressure on Ancelotti to deliver a record sixth World Cup title is unlike any other.\n\n”His position perhaps has more pressure than being the president of the country,” Alisson said.\n\nMorocco captain Achraf Hakimi, who playfully joked that he has an advantage over Ancelotti after reading all of the coach’s books, said that even with Brazil’s recent struggles, the five-time champions still command full respect from his side.\n\n”We all respect Brazil. Some people say it’s not the Brazil of before. Well, it’s still Brazil,” Hakimi said through an interpreter. “They’re passionate, they love football, they have great qualities. They really want to win this World Cup.”\n\nThe two sides have only met once before in World Cup play, a 1998 group stage match that Brazil won 3-0 behind goals from Brazil legends Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto — who popularized the iconic baby-rocking goal celebration during Brazil’s 1994 World Cup title run in the United States. Ancelotti has already signaled he is fully supportive of the Brazilian squad’s tradition of celebratory goal dances, confirming that the practice remains allowed under FIFA’s updated match rules.\n\n”It’s not banned to dance in the new regulations of FIFA. This is not forbidden,” he said. “They want to optimize the time of play, but you can still celebrate and dance.”\n\nMatch conditions will bring an extra challenge for both squads, with forecasts calling for temperatures around 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius) at kickoff at MetLife Stadium, which will also host this year’s World Cup final on July 19. Hakimi said the heat will not be an issue for his squad, noting that Moroccan players are already accustomed to warm conditions.\n\nOff the pitch, the match will pit two close friends and club teammates against each other: Hakimi and Brazil captain Marquinhos play together at Paris Saint-Germain, and just weeks ago helped the French club win its second consecutive Champions League title. The pair have already agreed that their clubhouse friendship will be put on hold for the duration of the World Cup, as both chase a title with their national sides.\n\n”When we play together at PSG we have a good laugh and we said on the (World Cup) pitch we’re not teammates,” Hakimi said. “We will talk, of course, but we each want to win and may the best win.”\n\nBrazil will be missing its biggest attacking star for the opening match, as 34-year-old Neymar continues to recover from a torn right calf muscle. Picked for his fourth World Cup, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 career international goals is not expected to be available for Saturday’s kickoff, though Ancelotti expressed optimism that the veteran will return to full training next week. Ancelotti added that Neymar was selected for the squad not just for his unmatched on-pitch talent, but for his leadership as an example for Brazil’s young core of players.\n\nDespite the high expectations from fans back home that range from hopeful anticipation to outright demand for a title, Ancelotti said he feels confident in his squad’s ability to compete for the crown.\n\n”We have a possibility to compete to win,” Ancelotti said, switching to English. “We have a good feeling.”
Expected to win 6th World Cup title, Brazil coach faces more pressure than nation’s president
