Vinícius Júnior scored the equalizer, Brazil drew with Morocco in their first match of the 2026 World Cup.

Vinicius and Brahim Díaz share the same locker room at Valdebebas, nutmeg each other in training, and carpool home after sessions. On June 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, they faced each other across the center circle—one in yellow and green, the other in red and green. In the first match of Group C, Brazil took on Morocco.

In the 21st minute, Brahim Díaz sliced open Brazil's defense with a through ball, and Sebali chipped the ball over Alisson's head. In the 32nd minute, Vinicius faked repeatedly inside the box and blasted a tight-angle shot into Bounou's goal.

1-1.

Both goals in this match involved Real Madrid players. Vinicius scored one, and Brahim Díaz assisted the other. After the match, Vinicius took home the Man of the Match award.

This Man of the Match trophy felt hot. Brazil had 51% possession and 12 shots, while Morocco had 14. A five-time World Cup champion was outshot by a North African team.

In the first half, Morocco fired off 12 shots.

12 shots.

Brazil's defense was breached like a highway toll booth at 3 a.m., with the gate up and cars passing freely. In the second half, Morocco went quiet, not registering another shot until after the 90th minute. Alisson's crucial double save barely dragged a point back from the goal line. If that ball had gone in, the next day's headline would have been "Ancelotti's first match flops," with no mention of "Vinicius's Real Madrid version activated."

Vinicius was blunt after the match: "The high temperature and dry pitch made it very hard. We couldn't find our rhythm."

His words were frank, even a little jarring. Brazilian commentators were praising "the Real Madrid version of Vinicius finally showing up for the national team," but the player himself confessed that the pitch and temperature prevented the team from even maintaining a basic rhythm.

He added: "I feel great freedom and sincere trust from Ancelotti."

Before the match, at the training ground in Morristown's Columbia Park, Ancelotti put his arm around Vinicius's shoulder and whispered in his ear for a long time, with Vinicius responding emotionally. The 32nd-minute blast after three fakes in the box was the payoff of that long talk. Another coach might not have dared to let him feint three times before shooting.

Trust comes with a price.

Without midfield ball control, the ball was repeatedly sent down the left flank. Morocco's right-back was lost trying to mark him, but the central support was always a step late. A 1-1 draw with Morocco looked on paper like a leveler, but beneath it all, Ancelotti had bet everything on one left flank and his goalkeeper's gloves.

Ancelotti didn't hide after the match: "We are not perfect and need to improve—we can be faster in possession."

The first match was far from a passing grade. Vinicius was still complaining about the dry pitch. But in three days, in the second group stage match, MetLife Stadium won't water the grass for him.