After a few subpar tournament showings, Vini Jr makes his mark to get Brazil back into this game. Morocco switches off after the Read Madrid man doled the ball off to Bruno Guimarães, and Vini scampered to the flank unmarked. His cut into the box was quick, and his shot was placed well with too much power for Bounou to catch up.

Remarkably, just his tenth Brazil goal in 50 caps. Bound to be his favorite if Brazil can build off of this.

30 min Brazil have to wake up, because Morocco is relentless with its pressing and ball retention at the moment. Two blocked shots by Brazil led to a tame effort by Diaz which rolled into Alisson’s loving embrace.

And yet, Brazil’s attempt to get into midfield immediately results in a turnover. The South American fans are audibly distraught as Hakimi shanks a shot into the crowd.

27 min To answer the previous post: not well! Another quick run upfield finds Hakimi in the right half-space, but his shot rolls beyond Alisson’s far post. Morocco has more than doubled Brazil’s shot total already, and they seem to be enjoying this one far more than Brazil.

26 min Back at it in New Jersey, so just around three minutes of hydration afforded. How will Brazil adjust for this second quarter?

There’s some kind of pep band that gets pressed into service during the commercial break here, and some blaring stadium music. But mostly, the fans seem to be using the occasion to take selfies, as god intended.

Gulp gulp 1 The gravely voiced Fox announcer sure seems to relish previewing France games, from an Ummmmbappé to really getting into his sinuses for Les Bleus.

23 min Drink break! Sugar-free cola for me. Probably something a bit more electrolyte-y for the fellas out there.

21 min An incisive sequence by Morocco catches Brazil unaware, with Brahim Diaz playing a ball into Ismael Saibari’s stride. With Alisson committed to confronting the PSV forward just outside the box as his center-backs had yet to retreat, Saibari sent a loving lob over the Liverpool goalkeeper and into the open net.

Brazil seem stunned, but it’s entirely deserved.

19 min Bono starting to be called into action a bit more, though a chest-down by Rapinha found the goalkeeper before Igor Thiago can get a toe to it. Brazil are still trying to find their avenues, while Morocco seem content to continue operating in the shade.

A nimble spin by Vini Jr at the edge of the box is ushered beyond the endline by Hakimi. Corner kick impending.

16 min Quite a suite of distinguished guests for Brazil, with Ronaldo, Kaká, and Roberto Carlos shown on the Fox broadcast. Ancelotti’s side are finally getting a foothold, though this has largely been a middle-third affair over the past ten minutes or so.

14 min A great chance for Brazil! Vinicius Junior gets to the touchline and finds just enough room beyond Hakimi to send a cross into the six-yard box. Igor Thiago shanks his header into the ground directly in front of him, but finally a sign of life from Brazil.

13 min So far: Morocco are outshooting Brazil 6-1, though none of the combined seven attempts have landed on-target.

12 min You can feel the nerves of a largely Brazilian crowd through the broadcast, with Morocco’s supporters already ramping up the “olé” chants as they continue to toy with Brazil to find an opening. Brazil look a bit surprised by the pressure, though they hardly should be given Morocco’s caliber.

9 min Morocco wasting no time to advance upfield after Brazil turns the ball over, but Gabriel wins a free kick after Hakimi is charged with a foul on a 50/50 aerial.

Hakimi looks a bit amused, having already dealt with plenty of Gabriel’s gamesmanship in the recent Champions League final.

7 min Brazil know they can take a bit of the ball, right? It’s all Morocco thus far, with the South Americans struggling to find a foothold. Good sustained possession by Mohamed Ouahbi’s side, though both of their early shots have given Alisson little to sweat.

5 min Morocco are still listing to the left, perhaps clinging to the shaded portions of the pitch in East Rutherford. Noussair Mazraoui already involved in both directions, completing his first seven passes and making a smooth sliding tackle during a brief bit of Brazilian possession.

4 min While stars Hakimi and Diaz operate up the right, Morocco seem determined to keep Brazil honest and begin their work up the left flank. A well-drawn foul by Bilal El Khannouss to give the Atlas Lions their first free kick, which Brazil promptly clear into the opposite half.

It’s getting Sirius in East Rutherford, as Brazil and Morocco take to the field to the tune that soundtracked the pre-game for those great 1990s Chicago Bulls teams.

Will we see Air Vini today? Can Bounou stand as tall as Luc Longley? Will these cross-sport references never end?

Another sweltering kickoff in East Rutherford: 89°F (32°C) with humidity around 35%.

Spare a thought for Fifa’s volunteers, clad in colorful tracksuits throughout the grounds at this tournament. Hope a hydration break is in their run-of-show, too.

Pele once famously backed Africa to become the third continent to harbor a World Cup champion. Will this be the year?

With a record 10 African teams at the first 48-nation World Cup finals tournament, the big question, after Morocco’s historic semi-final appearance in Qatar, is whether any of them can go a step further.

“Many see Cameroon as the pacesetter in African football but Morocco are the real leaders, as they were the first to reach the second round of the World Cup [in 1986] and the first to reach the semi-final in Qatar,” former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph‑Antoine Bell says.

We also have Leander Schaerlaeckens in the box at “New York/New Jersey Stadium” today!

For three hours now, the masses in yellow have been streaming into the MetLife – sorry, that’s what it’s called – outnumbering the red of Morocco by 10-to-1 or so. A huge Brazilian diaspora lives in the tri-state area. Moroccans I’ve spoken to have come from Marrakech, of course, but as far afield as Dubai, the UK and (in surprising numbers) Montreal.

It’s a sweltering day in the Meadowlands. It feels, perhaps for the first time all tournament, like commercial breaks – yup... - are justified.

Brazil’s last World Cup match on US soil was a famous one: the 1994 final, where that side’s pragmatic approach overcame an Italy side that included Carlo Ancelotti. If you can’t beat them, join them.

Now at the helm of the five-time champion, Ancelotti may need to prioritize similarly stout structure given some relatively thin areas in his squad.

Fox doing its best to prepare its viewership for Brazilian flair, though that has been in somewhat short supply at recent World Cups.

Zlatan Ibrahimović stressing the importance for them to win the first match to ease some pressure and find its best football thereafter. Thierry Henry and the Swede both singing the praises of Ronaldo, who I’m sure Carlo Ancelotti would have loved to bring onto his squad via time traveling.

Alas, no such luck. Instead it’s Igor Thiago, fresh off his 22-goal campaign with Brentford.

Blogging to you live from Beverly Hills!

A surprise finale in the day’s first match, with Switzerland getting their just desserts for such a timid performance against Qatar. On to the day’s main event, with Lucas Paquetá tasked to get the most out of Vinícius Júnior, Raphina and Igor Thiago. Will we see Endrick make his World Cup debut from the bench?

No Neymar, due to his chronic injury habit. That may help Brazil find their rhythm a bit easier without the fans crying for his inclusion. Then again, Bounou is as proven a tournament shot-stopper as anyone these days, with Morocco arriving in good health and with ample confidence after strong showings in Qatar and at Afcon 2026.

Drop your thoughts in my inbox and I’ll fold them in nicely as the match allows.