Vinícius Júnior spares Brazil’s blushes in a 1-1 draw with Morocco, while Qatar snatch a historic first-ever World Cup point against Switzerland.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup ignited with pure theater as tournament favorites faltered and underdogs rewriting history on North American soil.
In Group C, five-time champions Brazil endured a chaotic start in New Jersey against a brilliant Moroccan side. The Atlas Lions dominated early proceedings and deservedly took the lead through Ismael Saibari’s clever 21st-minute strike. Shaky and out of sync, the Seleção relied on individual brilliance to survive, with Vinícius Júnior dynamic on his 50th international cap to slot home a vital first-half equalizer and secure a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, Group B delivered an even greater shock at Levi’s Stadium. A dominant Switzerland looked comfortably on course for victory after Breel Embolo converted a first-half penalty. However, tournament co-hosts Qatar staged a dramatic, deep stoppage-time comeback. A fierce 94th-minute header forced a catastrophic error from the Swiss defense, locking the score at 1-1 and handing Qatar their first-ever point in World Cup history.
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