Brazil Draws Morocco as Local Media Rips Casemiro and Questions Ancelotti

Brazil began its 2026 World Cup campaign with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Morocco, extending its unbeaten run in World Cup openers to 21 matches but failing to win its first group game. The match, played on Sunday and described as the biggest of the tournament so far in the group stage, came a year after Carlo Ancelotti was appointed Brazil coach, with expectations high that he would lead the Seleção toward a sixth world title.

Brazil’s main bright spot was Vinicius Junior, who scored a superb goal, his 10th for the national team in 60 appearances. Even so, the Brazilian press was highly critical of the team’s overall performance and of several individual players.

Rafael Ribeiro of the local outlet Oulha said, “These are the weakest right backs in our history, Casemiro is slower than internet in the 1990s.” He added that Vinicius “scored a great goal, but made mistakes in the rest of his actions” and argued that “Morocco is currently a better team than Brazil.” The newspaper also questioned Ancelotti’s substitutions, asking, “It seemed Ancelotti was satisfied with a draw, why didn’t Endrick come on?”

Morocco also drew praise after its first game under coach Mohamed Ouahbi. The Atlas Lions, despite missing injured Nayef Aguerd and Ez Abde, extended their unbeaten run in regular time to 30 matches and showed the same strength that took them to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup.