Brazil opens the World Cup without Neymar against a confident Morocco

Ancelotti said Neymar was called up not only for his quality but also for his experience and the example he sets for younger players. With the star absent, the spotlight shifts to Vinicius Junior, who arrived as one of the tournament’s most talked-about players but said individual awards do not interest him. “I don’t care about individual titles,” the Real Madrid forward said before the game. “I did not come here to be the tournament’s best player. I came to help Brazil win its sixth World Cup.”

Vinicius also reflected on Brazil’s painful quarterfinal exit to Croatia at the 2022 World Cup, saying that setback made the team stronger. “We learned that we need to stay focused until the very last second. There is no room for mistakes at a World Cup,” he said.

Morocco, meanwhile, arrives after reaching the semifinal of the last World Cup and is rejecting the underdog label. Much of the attention will fall on Achraf Hakimi, who is set for another high-profile duel with Vinicius. Hakimi said he knows the Brazilian well, has played against him many times, and feels ready, adding, “I am sure we will put in a good performance.” He also dismissed the idea that Brazil are clear favorites, saying, “There are no favorites at the World Cup. We know the quality of both teams. It is a very balanced match.”

Morocco coach Mohammed Wahbi added a lighter note, joking that he had read all of Ancelotti’s books and perhaps therefore knows his “secrets.” With the tournament only beginning to gather momentum, the match is seen as the first major test for one of the leading contenders, as Brazil looks to show it can cope without Neymar and Morocco aims to prove its run in Qatar was no fluke.