Bruno Guimaraes and Brazil kicked off their 2026 World Cup group matches in New Jersey on Saturday.
Anybody thinking this would be an easy opener obviously unaware that Morocco (7th) are only placed one below Brazil (6th) in the world rankings.
Very quickly the match went into a pattern, Morocco repeatedly winning the ball and then most of the Brazil players losing all discipline and a bit like a schoolyard game they were swarming after the opposition player in possession, rather than holding their positions.
The referee very lenient as he clearly didn’t want to book any Brazil players as their attempts to win back possession became ever more desperate.
Morocco were creating great situations one after the other as Brazil in chaos, finally on 21 minutes they took one of the chances. A brilliant through ball left Arsenal’s Gabriel trailing and Liverpool’s Alisson came rushing out, with Saibari expertly lifting the ball over the Brazil keeper for a well deserved opener.
Morocco continued to dominate and after half an hour they had already registered 12 shots with Brazil looking all but certain to totally fall apart and concede multiple times.
Then out of nowhere Brazil equalised.
Clever work by Bruno Guimaraes worked the ball through to Vinicius Jnr in the penalty area and the Real Madrid winger was brilliant as he cut inside and lashed an unstoppable shot across the opposition keeper. Newcastle United’s Bruno with an assist and some how Brazil level on 32 minutes.
That gave Brazil some confidence but the match was still frantic, played at such a pace. Zero surprise when at last the referee gave yellow cards to both Casemiro and Roger Ibanez. Then Brazil almost went ahead before the break, Bruna’s mate Lucas Paqueta seeing a volleyed effort saved well by Bounou.
Carlo Ancelotti subbed off both of the yellow carded players at half-time and I reckon he would have taken Casemiro off earlier if it wouldn’t have looked so embarrassing for the Man U player. He was a total liability in midfield and his lack of mobility left Bruno Guimaraes having so much to do in terms of trying to stop the relentless attacks of Morocco.
Brazil looked a bit better after the break and understandably the pace of the match dropped for both sides. A more even game but few chances and a feeling maybe that both teams began to think a point each would be decent in a group that includes Haiti and Scotland.
Bruno Guimaraes though almost had his second assist as he looked to have laid on the winner. The United midfielder popped up on the right and a brilliant low cross was fizzed in and Raphinha just failed to connect in front of goal.
A shattered Bruno was subbed off with ten minutes to go and it was very noticeable that Brazil then started to have less control of the match again but survived without any major scares.
Vinicius Jnr was clearly man of the match for Brazil with his spectacular finish but Bruno Guimaraes clear second to him with a very good display in difficult circumstances.
A win for Brazil on Saturday against Haiti will all but guarantee progress to the knockout stages but you have to feel that Ancelotti’s team will have to do far better than this if they are to threaten the later stages of the tournament. Apart from back four, Bruno Guimaraes in that opening half looking like the only Brazil player in midfield and attack that was interested in trying to defend in a disciplined way against a dangerous Morocco side.
The 2026 World Cup group games schedule for Newcastle United players:
Saturday 13 June
Morocco 1 Brazil 1 (Bruno Guimaraes assist for Vinicius Jnr equaliser)
Sunday 14 June
Curacao v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 6pm ITV
Monday 15 June
Tunisia v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 3am ITV
Wednesday 17 June
Portugal v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 6pm BBC
Croatia v England (Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group match 9pm ITV
Saturday 20 June
Haiti v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group match 1.30am ITV
Ivory Coast v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 9pm ITV
Netherlands v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 6pm BBC
Tuesday 23 June
Ghana v England (Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Wednesday 24 June
Scotland v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group match 11pm BBC
Colombia v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 3am ITV
Thursday 25 June
Ecuador v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Friday 26 June
Japan v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 12am BBC
Saturday 27 June
Panama v England (Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group match 10pm ITV
Sunday 28 June
Uzbekistan v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 12.30am BBC