Brazil versus Morocco
- Kick-off:
- Stadium: MetLife Stadium · New York/New Jersey, United States
Brazil
Brazil arrive as five-time champions and the only nation present at every edition of the tournament — 22 in a row. After the 2022 quarter-final shock against Croatia, the federation made a historic move: Carlo Ancelotti became the first foreign manager in Seleção history. The Italian inherits a squad bursting with attacking talent: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Rodrygo, Endrick, and Raphinha. Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães anchor the midfield. Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland looks straightforward, but Brazil cannot ignore Morocco — the 2022 semi-finalists who proved African football has closed the gap. The expectation is hexa: a sixth title, the one missing trophy of the modern Brazilian narrative.
Morocco
Morocco arrive as the breakout story of the modern era, the first African nation to reach a tournament semi-final after their stunning 2022 run that ended only against eventual champions France. Walid Regragui, the architect of that miracle, remains in charge. Achraf Hakimi (PSG) drives the right flank with a balance of pace and tactical maturity rarely seen at full-back. Hakim Ziyech provides creativity from the wing; Sofyan Amrabat is the metronome; goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal) is one of the world's best between the posts. Group C with Brazil, Haiti and Scotland is winnable; second place would set up an intriguing knockout path. The Atlas Lions are no longer underdogs.
MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium hosts the 2026 final on July 19, the climax of the 48-team tournament in North America. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City, the venue seats 82,500 for football matches and is shared by NFL franchises Giants and Jets. The stadium has been retrofitted from artificial turf to a hybrid natural-grass surface specifically for the tournament. Beyond the final, MetLife stages eight matches in total, including a semi-final, ensuring the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area remains the tournament's symbolic centre across the entire month-long competition. Climate: warm, humid summer days; humidity peaks in mid-July. The pitch is fully open-air. The choice of MetLife for the final reflected commercial weight, transit access, and the global resonance of New York more than pure footballing prestige.