Ancelotti Reflects on Brazil’s Draw with Morocco: ‘No One Wins the World Cup from the First Match’

Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, head of the Brazil national team, addressed the media following his team’s 1-1 draw against Morocco in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The match took place at MetLife Stadium in the United States, marking Brazil’s first game in the tournament.

After the match, Ancelotti stated, “We need to improve; we did not perform as expected at the start. However, our level improved over time.”.

He added, “We did not start well; the players were nervous, and we lost many balls and several duels. The first half was not good, but our performance improved in the second half. It was a tough match because Morocco is a strong team.”.

Ancelotti continued: “There was a sense of anxiety; the players tried to cope with the pressure but left dangerous spaces during transitions. We could have controlled the game better.”.

He concluded by saying, “Yes, I am satisfied with the point. We hoped for a better start, but a draw is acceptable against a strong team like Morocco. Now we must focus on our next match. Also, no one wins the World Cup from the first match.”.