Five-time winners Brazil step into the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, facing surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco in a heavyweight group-stage clash. The match is one of four on the first day of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Scotland are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998. They take on tournament debutants Haiti in Boston. The Tartan Army will look to Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay—an icon since his stunning overhead kick sealed qualification against Denmark last November—to drive the team.
In other games, 2022 hosts Qatar play Switzerland in Santa Clara, and Australia face Turkey in Vancouver to close the day.
The United States launched their home World Cup in style on Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 in front of a star-studded 70,000 crowd in Los Angeles that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, and David Beckham.
Brazil aren't the force they once were—they laboured through South American qualifying, losing six of 18 matches and finishing fifth. In previous years that would've forced them into play-offs. But Carlo Ancelotti, making his World Cup debut as a coach, has been brought in to end a 24-year wait for a sixth crown.
"It's a new experience, it's a new responsibility to represent the country of football," the Italian said on Friday. "We have a team that can compete with every team in the world, we're convinced of that. It's a team with quality and experience, and with absolute confidence that it can compete with anyone."
Forwards Rodrygo and Estevao are out injured. Fading superstar Neymar—who hasn't played for Brazil since 2023—will miss the opening game, but Ancelotti said he is "working very hard to recover as quickly as possible."
That puts pressure on Vinicius Junior, who scored 21 goals last season for Real Madrid, to provide the firepower. Barcelona's Raphinha can also find the net.
Morocco stunned the football world four years ago by becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals in Qatar. They were awarded this year's Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil after a chaotic final initially won 1-0 by Senegal. Senegal were stripped of the victory after storming off in protest at a late penalty decision.
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who replaced Walid Regragui in March, said: "It's a match that will tell us where we stand, but I think we're in a good place to start this competition. Lots of people say it's not the Brazil of old, but it's still Brazil."
Haiti will hope to do their turmoil-hit country proud. Australia coach Tony Popovic said he was confident his side could "punch above our weight," but Turkey represent a tough early test.
The World Cup culminates in the final in New Jersey on July 19.