Will we see Air Vini today? Can Bounou stand as tall as Luc Longley? Will these cross-sport references never end?<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another sweltering kickoff in East Rutherford: 89\u00b0F (32\u00b0C) with humidity around 35%.<\/p>\n Spare a thought for Fifa\u2019s volunteers, clad in colorful tracksuits throughout the grounds at this tournament. Hope a hydration break is in their run-of-show, too.<\/p>\n Fifa\u2019s tracksuit-clad volunteers, ahead of South Korea-Czechia on Thursday. Photograph: Lars Baron\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a> Pele once famously backed Africa to become the third continent to harbor a World Cup<\/a> champion. Will this be the year?<\/p>\n With a record 10 African teams at the first 48-nation World Cup finals tournament, the big question, after Morocco\u2019s historic semi-final appearance in Qatar, is whether any of them can go a step further.<\/p>\n \u201cMany see Cameroon as the pacesetter in African football but Morocco are the real leaders, as they were the first to reach the second round of the World Cup [in 1986] and the first to reach the semi-final in Qatar,\u201d former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph\u2011Antoine Bell says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> We also have Leander Schaerlaeckens in the box at \u201cNew York\/New Jersey Stadium\u201d today!<\/p>\n For three hours now, the masses in yellow have been streaming into the MetLife \u2013 sorry, that\u2019s what it\u2019s called \u2013 outnumbering the red of Morocco by 10-to-1 or so. A huge Brazilian diaspora lives in the tri-state area. Moroccans I\u2019ve spoken to have come from Marrakech, of course, but as far afield as Dubai, the UK and (in surprising numbers) Montreal.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a sweltering day in the Meadowlands. It feels, perhaps for the first time all tournament, like commercial breaks \u2013 yup… – are justified.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.47 EDT<\/p>\n Brazil\u2019s last World Cup<\/a> match on US soil was a famous one: the 1994 final, where that side\u2019s pragmatic approach overcame an Italy side that included Carlo Ancelotti. If you can\u2019t beat them, join them.<\/p>\n Now at the helm of the five-time champion, Ancelotti may need to prioritize similarly stout structure given some relatively thin areas in his squad.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.44 EDT<\/p>\n While not involved today, Neymar gets the best seat in the house without paying Fifa a dime. Photograph: Daniela Porcelli\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Fox doing its best to prepare its viewership for Brazilian flair, though that has been in somewhat short supply at recent World Cups.<\/p>\n Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 stressing the importance for them to win the first match to ease some pressure and find its best football thereafter. Thierry Henry and the Swede both singing the praises of Ronaldo, who I\u2019m sure Carlo Ancelotti would have loved to bring onto his squad via time traveling.<\/p>\n Alas, no such luck. Instead it\u2019s Igor Thiago, fresh off his 22-goal campaign with Brentford.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Blogging to you live from Beverly Hills!<\/p>\n A surprise finale in the day\u2019s first match, with Switzerland getting their just desserts for such a timid performance against Qatar. On to the day\u2019s main event, with Lucas Paquet\u00e1 tasked to get the most out of Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior, Raphina and Igor Thiago. Will we see Endrick make his World Cup<\/a> debut from the bench?<\/p>\n No Neymar, due to his chronic injury habit. That may help Brazil<\/a> find their rhythm a bit easier without the fans crying for his inclusion. Then again, Bounou is as proven a tournament shot-stopper as anyone these days, with Morocco arriving in good health and with ample confidence after strong showings in Qatar and at Afcon 2026.<\/p>\n Drop your thoughts in my inbox and I\u2019ll fold them in nicely as the match allows.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.55 EDT<\/p>\n Football unites the world \u2026 but only up to a point, as we\u2019ve learned in recent days. Photograph: Hannah Peters\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>A glimpse inside the Morocco locker room at the New Jersey Stadium. Photograph: Hannah Peters\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>Brazil fans at the New Jersey Stadium. Photograph: Caean Couto\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a>Brazil v Morocco line-ups<\/p>\n Brazil: Alisson, Ibanez, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Guimaraes, Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior, Thiago.<\/p>\n Subs: Weverton, Ederson, Ederson Silva, Alex Sandro, Cunha, da Silva Danilo, Bremer, Leo Pereira, Fabinho, dos Santos Danilo, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Martinelli, Rayan.<\/p>\n Morocco: Bounou, Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui, Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannous, Saibari.<\/p>\n Subs: Mohamedi, Tagnaouti, Amrabat, Saadane, Talbi, Rahimi, El Ouahdi, El Mourabet, Yassine, Sbai, Belammari, El Kaabi, Amaimouni-Echghouyab, Halhal, Saleh-Eddine.<\/p>\n Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n While it was always a reach to project this tournament would feel like 104 Super Bowls, some matchups inevitably fit the blockbuster billing. Brazil<\/a> and Morocco\u2019s opener in Group C is this tournament\u2019s first glamour fixture, pitting the five-time champions against the dark horse darlings of 2022, who arrive in great form.<\/p>\n Few know exactly what to expect from Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s first World Cup<\/a> on the touchline. A gilded figure on the club side, Ancelotti picked a squad teeming with stout center-backs and dynamic dribblers, but with some uncertainty in midfield, at full-back, and up top. Endrick finally taking a long-awaited leap would do wonders to assuage those latter concerns, and will most likely be necessary if Brazil are to snap their 24-year drought.<\/p>\n![\"Osasu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Osasu_Obayiuwana.png\")
Osasu Obayiuwana<\/p>\n![\"Leander](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Leander_Schaerlaeckens.png\")
Leander Schaerlaeckens<\/p>\n