Brazil and Morocco set for high-profile World Cup meeting

NEW JERSEY: Brazil and Morocco are due to meet on June 13 in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Group C match scheduled for 6pm local time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The 2026 tournament is being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico and features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, making it the biggest edition of the competition so far.

This year's official ball, the Adidas TRIONDA, is manufactured mainly in Sialkot. It contains a 500Hz motion sensor chip designed to monitor passes, shots and deflections in real time and relay data to match officials. Because of the internal sensor, the match balls must be plugged in and fully charged before each game.

Morocco's rise and Brazil's pursuit

Morocco go into the game after a strong run in recent years. They reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African and Arab side to make the last four, and finished fourth after wins over Spain and Portugal. Morocco have now qualified for the World Cup eight times.

Morocco recently won Afcon 2025 after a ruling overturned Senegal's title. Their squad includes players such as Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Yassine Bounou, Abde Ezzalzouli and Noussair Mazraoui, all of whom have experience with leading European clubs.

Brazil remain the most successful team in World Cup history with five titles, although they have not won the competition since 2002. They last reached the semi-finals in 2014, when they were beaten heavily by Germany on home soil.

Now coached by Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil are seeking to end a 24-year wait for the trophy. It is Ancelotti's first major international tournament, and he is the only coach to have won the UEFA Champions League five times.

Team news and recent history

The last meeting between Brazil and Morocco came in a friendly, when Morocco won 2-1. Saturday's game will be refereed by Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić.

Brazil's squad includes Neymar, although it remains unclear whether he will be fit enough to start. Recent Brazil line-ups have not included Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Estêvão.

Igor Thiago has been selected after scoring 22 goals in the Premier League this season, while Vinicius and Raphinha are expected to lead the attack with support from either Endrick or Cunha. Brazil also have Martinelli and Luiz Henrique among their attacking options from the bench.

MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity of more than 82,000, is expected to be full for the match. The build-up has also drawn attention in Pakistan, where football followers in Karachi's Lyari neighbourhood have decorated streets and buildings with flags and colours associated with competing nations.