LOS ANGELES: Five-time winners Brazil needed a superb Vinicius Junior equaliser to draw 1-1 with Morocco in their opening game at the World Cup on Saturday as Australia conjured a stunning 2-0 upset of Turkiye.
On the first day to feature four matches at the expanded 48-team tournament, Qatar won the first World Cup point in their history when Miro Muheim’s own goal earned the 2022 tournament hosts a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Scotland, meanwhile, marked their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over Caribbean minnows Haiti in Foxborough, outside Boston.
The meeting of Brazil and 2022 semi-finalists Morocco at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City promised to be one of the early highlights.
Ismael Saibari ran through to give Morocco a 21st-minute lead with a clever scoop in the Group ‘C’ opener, but Vinicius produced a moment of magic to ensure Brazil came away with a point, cutting in from the left and unleashing a thunderous shot to level on 32 minutes.
Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy, but Saturday’s performance suggests there Carlo Ancelotti’s side have a lot of work to do.
“I think this was a tough match, especially in the beginning. I think the team was a bit anxious and nerves were all over the place,” said Ancelotti.
“We didn’t play well, but we cannot lose heart. This was the result we had. It wasn’t bad, but we’ll keep picking up from the second match on. You don’t win a World Cup based on your first match.”
Vinicius, 25, rued Brazil’s sluggish start against a Morocco side that had been told by their coach to approach the match with no fear.Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi praised the display of the 2022 semi-finalists, who suggested they will again be a tough proposition in North America.
“Proud of the effort of the team, we drew, but we are happy for the performance of us. We still have to improve every game, so that is what we’re going to be focused on right now,” Hakimi told Fox.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi was left with the feeling that his team could, and perhaps should, have taken more from the contest though.
“It was a good match, it’s a point. We would’ve hoped to have more but we’ll take the point,” said Ouahbi. “We’re happy, we’re not sad today, but we would have liked to win.”
TARTAN ARMY
In Group ‘C’s other game on Saturday, Scotland — playing in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 — were roared on to a hard-fought win over Haiti, themselves playing in their first World Cup since 1974.
Hordes of Scotland’s famous “Tartan Army” travelling supporters packed the Gillette Stadium, to watch manager Steve Clarke’s side claim their first victory in a World Cup game since the 1990 finals in Italy.
After a deafening rendition of “Flower of Scotland”, the Scots started a physical contest on the front foot, and scored the game’s only goal on 28 minutes when midfielder John McGinn’s deflected shot flew past Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide.
Haiti’s Frantzdy Pierrot headed narrowly wide in the 85th minute and threatened again in stoppage time but Scotland held on.
“Everyone said it was a must-win game — we won the game,” said Scotland manager Clarke, whose team face Morocco on Friday in their second game.
Scotland match-winner McGinn was optimistic his team can go on to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the very first time.
“This was our pressure game, we were the favourites going into it. Haiti are a very difficult opponent,” said McGinn, who had not scored for his country in over 18 months. “They have so many unique qualities that we are not used to playing against, so the important thing tonight was to get a clean sheet.
“Can we play a bit better? Of course we can. But this is brilliant, and we will go into the games against Brazil and Morocco with more gears to go up.”
Meanwhile, Haiti coach Sebastien Migne said that his side should be proud of their performance.
“When you play a match, what you’re trying to do is win,” he told reporters. “On one hand, I’m very proud of what the boys showed tonight. It was a very good showing, with some good football.
“When we know where we’re coming from, we rose to the challenge, but it makes it that much more frustrating that we came up slightly short.”
GAMBLE PAID OFF
In the Group ‘D’ clash in Vancouver on Saturday, Australia coach Tony Popovic’s gamble on youth paid off in his side’s surprise win over Turkiye in their World Cup opener, as Nestory Irankunda opened the scoring and goalkeeper Patrick Beach kept a superb clean sheet.
The result was dazzling vindication for Popovic, who had made the huge call to drop experienced captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan in favour of rookie shot-stopper Beach.
Beach repaid Popovic’s faith in him with an unforgettable performance, making save-after-save to deny the Turks, who enjoyed 72 per cent possession and spent long periods camped in Australian territory.
At the other end, Australia took the few chances that came their way with clinical precision, the goals coming from Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.
Another of Popovic’s selection calls also proved to be inspired, with Paul Okon-Engstler — starting in place of vice-captain Jackson Irvine — setting up Irankunda’s opener in the 27th minute.
Metcalfe made the game safe for the Australians with an individual strike in the 75th minute.
“Proud to be here as head coach, to experience this...and just happy for a wonderful young group of men,” Popovic said afterwards, before praising the contribution of inexperienced goalkeeper Beach.
“It’s something that we’ve always seen, and I’ve got a lot of belief in the young man. He stood up today, so very happy for him,” Popovic added.
Turkiye coach Vincenzo Montella lamented his side’s slow start to the extravaganza but said they still have time to recover from a humbling defeat.
“We are extremely saddened,” the Italian said. “We know there is still time to recover in the group stage. We know that in the beginning, the team has been a little bit slow.”
Turkiye struggled to match Australia physically, with the Socceroos outmuscling their opponents in challenges and getting their heads to the ball first at crosses and corners.
“They’re very tall, so it’s very difficult sometimes,” said Montella.
QATAR MAKE A POINT
Earlier on Saturday, Switzerland had taken the lead against Qatar in Santa Clara, California in Group ‘B’ when Breel Embolo converted a first-half penalty, but Muheim’s injury-time own goal secured a share of the spoils.
“I am very proud of the team,” said Qatar’s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui.
“I told them that even if we hadn’t scored the goal and didn’t draw I would have been proud of the mentality and discipline that they showed today. But fortunately we scored and that was history.”
Switzerland were confident of having their best-ever World Cup run, but their journey became a whole lot more complex after an unfathomable bout of misfiring opened the door for unheralded Qatar to snatch a point.
The Swiss swagger was abundant in the blazing sunshine, as a side playing in their sixth successive World Cup delivered a crowd-pleaser by laying siege to the Qatar goal for almost the entire match, with a whopping 26 attempts.
While the match was historic for Qatar it was yet another one for the Swiss to forget in a tournament in which they’re seemingly cursed after round-of-16 exits in five of their last six appearances.
If Switzerland are to be dark horses at this World Cup, Yakin may have a lot of work to do.
“It really hurts a lot,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said, describing it as two points lost. “Now we have to get back to the drawing board, assess the match and come back stronger.”
Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026