Brazil should take control from the start against Morocco in this World Cup group opener. Their recent form points to a confident side, with three straight wins before that narrow loss to France back in March. A 2-1 result over Egypt on June 6 and a 6-2 thrashing of Panama just days earlier show they can score freely when the mood takes them.
Morocco arrive with their own solid run, four unbeaten in five, though two of those ended level. The 4-0 win over Madagascar and 5-0 against Burundi stand out, yet the 1-1 draws with Norway and Ecuador suggest they might sit deeper here. Both sides line up in familiar shapes, Brazil in a 4-2-3-1 and Morocco with their usual 4-3-3, per the preview sources.
Vinicius Junior looks the man to watch for Brazil, carrying that sharp form into the tournament. Neymar's presence in the squad adds another layer of threat. On the other side Achraf Hakimi captains Morocco with his usual drive, while Brahim Díaz brings recent goalscoring edge from AFCON. The match at MetLife Stadium marks the Group C opener for both, alongside Scotland and Haiti, so a fast start matters.
Head-to-head details from this season simply aren't there, so the focus stays on current shape. No injury updates surfaced either, leaving the emphasis on what these teams have shown lately. Brazil's attacking options give them the clearer edge on paper, and they should expect to create more clear chances over the ninety minutes.
Morocco won't roll over though. Their defensive organisation has kept things tight in friendlies, and a point would still count as a decent result against this level of opposition. Expect a lively contest where Brazil press the tempo early while Morocco look to counter through Hakimi's overlaps.
Recommended Bets
Brazil win @1.75 — their three wins in the last four friendlies and superior attacking options make them the stronger side for the opener.
Over 2.5 goals @2.10 — Brazil have hit at least three goals in three of their last four matches, and Morocco's recent games have also produced goals.
Brazil -1 Asian handicap @2.00 — the 6-2 and 3-1 friendly results show Brazil can win by multiple goals against similar opposition.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
