KLIK SAJA - Five-time world champions Brazil will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a mouthwatering Group C clash against African giants Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.
While the Selecao are eager to make amends for their quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Atlas Lions face the daunting challenge of replicating their historic run to the semi-finals four years ago.
History was made in May 2025 when the Brazilian Football Confederation appointed Carlo Ancelotti as the first foreign head coach in the national team's history.
The 67-year-old Italian is embracing a new challenge on the international stage after enjoying a trophy-laden managerial career spanning more than three decades in club football.
Brazil remain the most successful nation in World Cup history. They have played the most matches (114), recorded the most victories (74), and, most importantly, won more titles than any other country with five World Cup crowns.
They are also the only nation to have qualified for every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1930.
However, Brazil have not lifted football's most prestigious trophy since 2002. Their current 24-year title drought equals the barren spell they endured between 1970 and 1994, which was finally ended on American soil.
The Selecao were forced to battle hard during qualifying for this expanded 48-team tournament. They finished fifth in the CONMEBOL standings after collecting eight wins, four draws, and six defeats from 18 matches, securing one of the six automatic qualification spots.
Brazil suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in their final World Cup qualifier. They also lost friendlies against Japan (3-2) and France (2-1) since October.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti's side bounced back impressively by winning their last three matches against Croatia, Panama, and Egypt, scoring 11 goals and conceding four.
Currently ranked fifth in the FIFA World Rankings, Brazil enter this contest having won seven of their previous eight World Cup matches against African opposition.
Their only defeat came in a 1-0 loss to Cameroon during the group stage of the 2022 tournament.
Unsurprisingly, many observers expect the Selecao to progress comfortably from Group C.
Four years after becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, Morocco are preparing for their seventh appearance on football's grandest stage.
