Saibari stuns Brazil as Morocco open World Cup with 1–1 draw

Saibari stunner earns point against Brazil

Morocco opened their World Cup campaign with a 1–1 draw against Brazil in Group C. Ismael Saibari scored a spectacular goal that has immediately caught the eye of Bayern Munich scouts watching in the stadium (1) (2) (5). Vinícius Júnior equalized for Brazil with a rocket measured at 113 km/h (3). The result leaves Morocco well positioned after one of the toughest fixtures on the group stage calendar.

Ancelotti admits Brazil were rattled

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti didn't hide his frustration after the draw, admitting his team was full of nerves. "You don't win a World Cup in the first game," he said, but acknowledged the performance needs to improve fast (6) (11). For Morocco, that's a badge of honor, you made the favorites sweat.

Scotland win complicates Group C

Scotland beat Haiti 1–0 thanks to a John McGinn goal, sending them top of Group C after the first round of matches (14) (15). With Brazil and Morocco both on one point, the group is tight. Scotland's win means every point matters, and Morocco's draw with Brazil already looks like valuable business.

Saibari's price tag just went up

Bayern Munich have been tracking Ismael Saibari, and his goal against Brazil won't make the negotiations any easier for the German club (5). Dutch media report that his value now exceeds €50 million, with performances like this only pushing the figure higher (1) (2). PSV hold the cards, and the World Cup spotlight is doing them no harm.

Ihattaren picks Morocco over Netherlands

Mohamed Ihattaren has revealed he would cheer for Morocco if the two nations meet at this World Cup. The Dutch-born midfielder described the Netherlands squad as "a really beautiful team with very fun players," but his heart lies with the Atlas Lions (4). A potential round-of-16 matchup could put that allegiance to the test.

Fan reactions

Morocco fans online are in good spirits after the Brazil result. The image of Achraf Hakimi and Vinícius Júnior sharing a friendly exchange after the final whistle has been doing the rounds, with supporters appreciating the mutual respect between the two stars. That said, plenty of Brazil fans felt Vinícius was the standout performer on the night. See the discussion here.