Vinicius Jr is Brazil’s cheat code but Morocco show what’s missing under Carlo Ancelotti | OneFootball

With Brazil floundering during an alarming first half of their World Cup 2026 opener against a slick and bold Morocco, Carlo Ancelotti desperately looked around for a saviour. Enter Vinicius Jr and a piece of exquisite skill to delight a sea of yellow inside this New York bowl and ignite a flawed Selecao in their pursuit of a sixth star.

Their wooden midfield, with Casemiro’s redemption at Manchester United obscured upon sporting that famous canary, and imposters at full-back enough to make Cafu and Roberto Carlos shudder, Vinicius Jr’s mercurial talent shone a light on why the heart of this tournament’s greatest team still beats.

A laser from the left side of the penalty area that pierced the top right corner of Bono’s net led to an eruption of joy and relief in equal doses. Bruno Guimaraes, also uncomfortable around the snapping Moroccan midfielders, placed an imperfect pass into space. Vinicius Jr reset, gathered and then sent a shiver down the spine of Neil El Aynaoui. Unable to stop the inevitable dance inside, Vinicius Jr brought parity, but also underlined Ancelotti’s ongoing struggle to find balance.

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Vinicius Jr salvaged a point for Brazil in their World Cup opener (Reuters)

This entire mission under Ancelotti, a first foreign manager of this proud nation, is the “rumo ao hexa,” or chasing the sixth, with parallels between this year’s quest and the triumph in 1994. And not merely due to the USA hosting both tournaments. With a 24-year drought between the legendary 1970 side and the overspill of emotion from those penalties in Pasadena, it has now also been 24 years since Ronaldo guided a side that gifted the world “joga bonito”.

That particular philosophy has long since disappeared; no longer the fabulous entertainers of the past, irresistible at their best and able to overwhelm opponents. That is why echoes of 1994 resonate. There, a Brazil side also flawed, but leaning on the ruthless Romario and Bebeto, covered up the cracks just enough, and grew into a tournament. Here, across 104 total matches and 48 teams there will be an opportunity to do just that.

The wildcard to this Selecao might still be Neymar Jr: a nation of 220 million coaches, Romario once said, that particular decision might be scrutinised a little more if Brazil fail to fire this summer.

Ancelotti is known to resist coveting a “clear identity,” and his Brazil made that apparent against the African champions, for now, with Senegal determined to reverse that status through Cas.

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Carlo Ancelotti is Brazil’s first ever foreign manager (Getty)

Ancelotti has talent, but confessed that “without talent you cannot win but balance is also very important,” and that remains the unanswered question here, with the ambitious approach from former Under-20s boss Mohamed Ouahbi offering an immediate fright to his opponents.

Brazil’s aforementioned glaring weakness at full-back saw Roger Ibanez exposed early and often. A stern examination from Bilal El Khannouss led to the crowd wincing at every twist and turn. And the rampaging Noussair Mazraoui overlapped nicely to leave the Al-Ahli defender sprawling.

The cut-back bobbled across to El Aynaoui and the finish lacked conviction in an early reprieve for the Selecao.

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Brazil's wooden midfield were overrun by Morocco (Reuters)

Then Azzedine Ounahi shifted the ball and angle on the edge of the penalty area; Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta’s desperate, chopping challenges exemplified how uncomfortable Brazil looked.

But Vinicius Jr’s sparkle offered a threat, regardless, with Achraf Hakimi beaten for pace. Igor Thiago failed to capitalise on the chance supplied by the winger or the moment, after being handed the starting centre forward jersey at a World Cup for the five-time winners.

A rare moment of danger from Brazil was soon erased by Morocco, who exposed the Selecao’s hapless shape. Brahim Diaz floated the ball in behind from deep, allowing Ismael Saibari to race past Gabriel Magalhaes and delicately lift the ball over Alisson Becker.

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Ismael Saibari gave Morocco a deserved lead (Reuters)

El Khannouss then opened up Brazil again, but Hakimi failed to capitalise after driving into space in yet another dangerous counter-attack. A trend that could hand Ancelotti some restless nights before future tests against Haiti and Scotland.

Hakimi boldly declared Morocco were “The Brazilians of Africa” ahead of the tournament and it was easy to see why, with Diaz’s little flick opening up the Selecao once more, but Saibari failed to connect cleanly and handed his side a hard truth at this level.

Morocco’s profligacy was punished with the ultimate cheat code: Vinicius Jr. His crisp finish brought an undeserved equaliser.

The second half failed to live up to the breathless pace of the first. Morocco wilted to show why Brazil will remain dangerous as this tournament unfolds.

The No 7’s pace could emerge as one of the fiercest weapons at this tournament, too, particularly in conditions like those in New Jersey, as temperatures reached 30C. One particular counter-attack saw a dragged finish from Raphinha stand between lift-off for a partnership that could match that of Romario and Bebeto on the biggest stage.

Danilo Santos dragged a finish in the closing stages and El Aynaoui’s bending drive was spilt by Alisson with Ayoube Amaimouni’s rebound smothered in a late scare. Those efforts were the first shots on goal for the Africans between the 31st and 99th minute. The points shared, but the pursuit of balance will define this Brazil and right now it has deserted them.