World Cup: Morocco maintains Brazil's executioner team base in 2023
The Brazilian team was still picking up the pieces from their elimination against Croatia in the World Cup in Qatar when they faced Morocco in a friendly held in Tangier, three months after the end of the World Cup.
The 2-1 marked Brazil's first defeat to Morocco in history. Before that, only victories, in 1997 and 1998.
From then on, while Brazil went through several tests with many names called up and four coaches, Morocco maintained its base even when changing command - eight players who were on the field were called up for the World Cup, and seven of them played as starters.
Brazil x Morocco lineup in 2023
On March 25, Brazil started the match better, but Morocco managed to balance the game and open the scoring with Boufal following a collective failure by Rony and Emerson Royal.
Casemiro equalized in the second half. The player had chances to give Amarelinha an advantage on the scoreboard, but the Moroccans ended up getting the better at the end of the game with a goal from Sabiri in yet another defensive error.
Morocco went to the field with Bono, Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd and Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi and El Khannouss; Ziyech, Boufal and En-Nesyri in the starting lineup.
Bono, Mazraoui, Amrabat, Ounahi and El Khannouss are in the group that faces Brazil on Saturday. Ezzalzouli and Aguerd also entered the field on that occasion, but ended up being cut off on the eve of their debut due to injury. Marwane Saadane and Amine Sbai were added to the list in their places.
Brazil's starting lineup had Weverton, Emerson Royal, Éder Militão, Ibañez and Alex Telles; Casemiro and Andrey Santos; Rony, Lucas Paquetá, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.
Raphael Veiga, Antony, Yuri Alberto and Vitor Roque left the bench throughout the match.
Controversial change of coach in Morocco...
At the time, Walid Regragui was the coach of the Moroccan national team. The coach left his position three months before the World Cup, citing exhaustion after leading the team to the final of the African Cup of Nations.
Even with impressive results, the 50-year-old coach had been the target of criticism from fans. During his entire stay, from September 2022 to March 2026, he recorded 36 wins in 49 matches, as well as eight draws and five defeats.
... Several changes in Brazil
Since that defeat, the Brazilian team also had a change of coaches, and three names occupied the position from the departure of Tite to the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti.
Ramon Menezes was on an interim basis for just over 120 days, from March to July 2024. Fernando Diniz, also interim, shared the role of coach of the Seleção with that of coach of Fluminense from July 2023 to January 2024.
The one who had the most time working was Dorival Jr, who was actually hired. From January 2024 to March 2025, the coach accumulated negative marks and was fired after the 4-1 defeat by Argentina.
Where to watch Brazil x Morocco
- TV: Globo, SBT, SporTV and N Sports
- Streaming: Ge TV (only on Globoplay) and CazéTV (YouTube)
- Real time: CNN Sports
Brazil x Morocco technical sheet
- Date: 06/13/2026
- Time: 7:30 pm
- Location: New Jersey Stadium, United States
- Stage: 1st round of group A of the World Cup
Marquinhos cites pain from eliminations as fuel for 2026
Source: CNN