Morocco’s 1-1 draw against Brazil in their opening Group C match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup generated widespread international praise, with global media outlets applauding the Atlas Lions for once again proving that their historic run in Qatar 2022 was no coincidence.
While Brazil entered the tournament as one of the favorites for the title, it was Morocco that earned many of the headlines after a disciplined and confident display against the five-time world champions.
The British press praised Morocco’s performance in its opening match against Brazil, saying the game marked “the definitive arrival of the Atlas Lions among world football’s elite.”
The British newspaper The Independent described the result as a “deserved draw” for the African side, noting that Morocco had taken the initiative early in the match and troubled Brazil with their intensity and tactical organization. The publication highlighted Ismael Saibari’s opening goal and stressed that Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil were unable to impose themselves consistently against the North African outfit.
Similarly, The Guardian reported that Morocco had controlled large portions of the first half and deserved more recognition for their performance. The newspaper noted that Vinícius Júnior’s equalizer rescued Brazil from what could have been an opening defeat, while praising Morocco’s collective discipline and resilience.
“Morocco now belongs in the pantheon of the greats,” The Guardian wrote, noting that the North African side, the first African nation in history to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022, confirmed against Brazil that it is capable of going deep into the tournament once again.
The Atlas Lions showed remarkable efficiency in exploiting the Seleçao’s weaknesses, the newspaper said, highlighting the confidence displayed by the Moroccans against one of the tournament favorites. Morocco played like a major football nation, while Brazil survived thanks to an individual star performance from Vinícius Júnior, who scored the equalizer.
British media noted that the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was not the story of a disappointing Brazil side dropping two points. Rather, it was the story of “an ambitious Morocco that forced one of football’s greatest nations to acknowledge its status.”
For The Times, the Atlas Lions controlled long stretches of the game, particularly in the first half, where their pressing, technical quality, and collective organization troubled the Brazilian side.
International news agency Reuters framed the encounter as the first major clash of the tournament and argued that Morocco had “exposed Brazil’s flaws.” According to Reuters, the Atlas Lions combined tactical maturity with attacking ambition, confirming their status as genuine contenders capable of challenging football’s traditional powers. The report added that Morocco’s display reinforced the belief that their remarkable achievements in Qatar four years ago were not merely a one-off success.
In the Arab media, Al Jazeera emphasized Morocco’s dominance during significant stretches of the match, describing Brazil as fortunate to escape with a draw thanks to Vinícius Júnior’s moment of brilliance. The outlet underlined the growing reputation of the Moroccan national team on the world stage and portrayed the Atlas Lions as a side that no opponent can afford to underestimate.
Morocco’s performance also made the headlines of European media which widely praised as remarkable this performance against Brazil in the opening match of Group C. Reports described “a clash that lived up to all its promises,” and highlighted the quality of play by the Atlas Lions and the spectacular performance of young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
For Radio France Internationale (RFI), Morocco was “impressive.” The Atlas Lions displayed “technique, possession, and beautiful football.” They may have missed an opportunity to “make a major statement” but they will “certainly be a force to be reckoned with in this World Cup,” the article’s author believes.
A similar observation was made by sports daily L’Équipe, which noted a Brazilian team “suffocated by Morocco’s press” and largely dominated at the start of the match.
The sports daily wrote that the Atlas Lions logically opened the scoring following noticeable dominance.
The Seleção, for its part, observed that the Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was the main, and “perhaps even the only,” Brazilian threat against the Moroccan team.
Le Figaro also noted that the Moroccans took the Brazilians “by the throat” right from the start of the match thanks to their aggressiveness and intensity, while Le Parisien spoke of a lively clash that kept all its promises. The daily highlighting the satisfaction of Moroccan national coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who was “very proud” of his players for keeping “ball control” and maintaining pressure against one of the tournament’s favorites.
In an article titled “An impressive Morocco stands up to Brazil,” Ouest-France spoke of an “impressive” Moroccan team and emphasized that the 2022 semi-finalists stood toe-to-toe with a Seleção that will have to “raise its level of play” to claim a sixth world title.
The online media outlet highlighted the performance of the Moroccan squad, which held Brazil in check, pointing out Ismael Saibari’s opening goal before Vinicius Jr’s equalizer, as well as the quality of football offered by the Atlas Lions against one of the tournament favorites.
Foot Mercato considered that Morocco rattled Brazil for a long time thanks to intense pressing and strong collective control before the Seleção reacted after the break.
TF1 pointed out that against the Atlas Lions, who were captivating right from the kickoff, the “Auriverde” squad was unable to force a decision. The match ended in a draw after having lived up to all its promises as a first-round World Cup blockbuster between the semi-finalists of the last edition in Qatar and the five-time world champions.
In neighboring Spain, Iberian sports commentators were also full of praise for the Atlas Lions’ masterful performance, agreeing that Morocco has definitively cemented its place among the elite of world football.
For the specialized outlet Defensa Central, Morocco proved that it is now playing at the exact same level as the Canarinha. The newspaper asserts that the historic performance at Qatar 2022 was no fluke and positions the Atlas Lions as serious title contenders in this World Cup.
The Catalan daily also praised the work of head coach Ouahbi, who has managed to sustain and bring continuity to the collective initially forged by Walid Regragui, relying on world-class players like Achraf Hakimi.
For its part, the major daily El País analyzed a clash of styles in which Morocco proved to be much more audacious and ambitious than during its 2022 epic run. According to the newspaper, this attacking philosophy rattled Carlo Ancelotti’s ultra-conservative game plan, forcing Brazil to rely on a stroke of individual genius from Vinicius Junior to snatch the equalizing goal against a dominant Moroccan side.
The leading Spanish sports daily, Marca, was full of praise for the quality of play showcased by the Atlas Lions, emphasizing the “clear superiority” of Mohamed Ouahbi’s men, and highlighting that Morocco managed to dominate Brazil right from the start of the match before managing the proceedings with great collective mastery.
In its analysis, the newspaper El Mundo believes that Vinicius Junior’s equalizer saved the Brazilian squad from a true fiasco in the face of Morocco’s “imposing superiority.” The daily states that the Moroccan team has proven it is permanently established among the global elite, sitting a cut above the Brazilians both during possession phases and in their work off the ball.
In the vein, daily Mundo Deportivo asserts that the Moroccan team delivered an “exuberant, fresh, and particularly pleasing to watch” performance, portraying Morocco as a “flawless” unit guided by an imperial Achraf Hakimi.
Russian media were not indifferent to the Atlas Lions’ feat and ambitions, pointing out that Morocco’s national football team confirmed its status as one of the contenders for a deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Russian sports daily “Sport-Express” said the Atlas Lions once again demonstrated their ability to compete with the world’s top football nations through disciplined team organization and strong character on the field.
The newspaper noted that Mohamed Ouahbi’s squad approached the match “without any inferiority complex” against the five-time world champions, adding that Morocco appeared to be “the more cohesive team” and succeeded in imposing its rhythm from the opening minutes.
For “Sport-Express,” the final result may have been psychologically more favorable to Morocco than to Brazil, as the Atlas Lions demonstrated once again that they can compete with the world’s elite national teams.
The newspaper further argued that the quality of football displayed by Morocco surpassed even some of its best recent performances, confirming the national team’s ambitions in this World Cup.
Echoing that assessment, RIA Novosti Sport wrote that the Atlas Lions exposed the weaknesses of a Brazilian side widely regarded as one of the leading contenders for the world title.
According to the Russian news agency, Morocco showed greater cohesion and collective control than the Brazilians.
several Senegalese media outlets followed suite and highlighted the quality of play developed by the Moroccan team, the performances of its young talents as well as the promise it shows for the rest of the 2026 World Cup.
The governmental newspaper Le Soleil reported that Morocco held Brazil to a draw in front of thousands of Seleção supporters dressed in yellow and green, who came in large numbers to support their team.
The Atlas Lions gained the upper hand over their opponent right from kickoff thanks to high pressing, a compact block, and rapid transitions, Le Soleil stated.
“Despite the absences of Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli, Mohamed Ouahbi’s men dominated a struggling Brazilian squad, with a midfield composed of Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, and Ounahi particularly prominent, while Brahim Diaz led the offensive sector alongside Ismael Saibari and El Khannouss,” wrote the daily.
According to Le Soleil, “Morocco thus confirms its status as a serious contender.” The Atlas Lions, semi-finalists in 2022, show that they have progressed even further.
For its part, the Senegalese sports news site Onzed’Afrik praised the Moroccans’ performance, noting that the draw against Brazil elicited both pride and regret among Moroccan supporters based in Senegal. Yet, “Optimism remains high around the Moroccan national team, driven by its constant progression and the emergence of young talents.”
Elsewhere, analysts focused on the tactical implications of the result for Brazil. Several international commentators questioned the Seleção’s defensive organization and midfield balance, pointing to Morocco’s ability to exploit spaces and dictate the tempo during key phases of the encounter.
Beyond the tactical discussions, international observers also praised the atmosphere created by Moroccan supporters. American media outlets highlighted the sea of red in the stands and the passionate backing received by Ouahbi’s men, describing Moroccan fans as among the most vibrant and influential at the tournament.
For Morocco, the reaction from the global press represents another milestone in the country’s football journey. Once considered outsiders against the sport’s traditional giants, the Atlas Lions are increasingly viewed as a mature, well-organized team capable of competing with — and troubling — the world’s elite.
The draw against Brazil may have yielded only one point, but in the eyes of much of the international media, Morocco emerged from the contest with enhanced credibility and renewed respect. As the World Cup progresses, the message from the world’s newspapers and broadcasters appears clear: Morocco are no longer a surprise package — they are a force to be reckoned with.
