2026 World Cup: Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti sets sights on winning start in Morocco opener

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Brazil’s squad and starting lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are already firmly decided, as the South American giants gear up for their opening match against Morocco.

The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for June 13, 2026 at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, marking the first group stage fixture for both nations in what promises to be a thrilling start to their campaigns.

Brazil’s preparations have included demanding friendly matches against France and Croatia, fixtures that tested the squad and offered valuable insight into the team’s readiness.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Croatia, Ancelotti emphasised that the focus was on refining his main team rather than experimenting.

“We’ve assessed players I wasn’t previously familiar with. Today, we have a very clear idea. I already have the starting lineup for the first match (against Morocco) at the World Cup, as well as the final squad,” he said.

“The purpose of the matches against France and Croatia was to test the starting lineup. It isn’t strong enough due to the many injuries. The idea wasn’t to test players in these two matches, but to test the official lineup,” he added.

Despite concerns over injuries, the experienced coach remains optimistic about Brazil’s trajectory heading into the tournament.

“We are on the right track and have a very clear idea of what we want to achieve. I’m sure the result matters, but for us, the most important result is that of the first match in the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.

Brazil and Morocco have been drawn in Group D alongside Scotland and Haiti, setting up a competitive group where early momentum could prove decisive.

While Brazil will be aiming to assert their dominance from the outset, Morocco will be eager to build on their impressive run at the 2022 World Cup and make another strong statement on football’s biggest stage.