90+3 min Brazil now with consecutive corners as they try to find a late winner, though Bono held the one dangerous effort by Danilo Santos. Still an awful lot of time remaining before either team can relax.

90 min Quite a big number for a scoreless half: 10 minutes of stoppage before Brazil and Morocco can head for the showers.

89 min The final sub is Morocco’s to make, with Soufiane Rahimi taking over for Saibari. A great shift for the PSV forward, who kept pressuring Brazil’s center-backs after scoring his opener.

87 min One could forgive both teams for thinking a draw will do today and back themselves to rack up favorable scorelines against Haiti and Scotland. Only over the past five minutes has this contest resembled the infamous dead rubber matches that usually haunt the final shifts of the group stage.

A couple speculative efforts by both teams since the drinks, though neither goalkeeper has been adequately threatened.

84 min Poor Bono now on the ground getting his right shoulder tended to after an honest knock from Raphinha.

First the ankle, then the shoulder. What’s next for Bono, some Vertigo?

82 min An emphatic fist pump after sliding to force a goal kick by Bouaddi, who has really impressed despite being of an age that’s right in ishowspeed’s target demo. Quite a precocious World Cup debut.

79 min A couple more changes for Morocco, though Bono isn’t among them. Mazraoui exits after a fine shift at left back while El Khannouss heads to the bench, with Anass Salah-Eddine and Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab making their World Cup debuts from the bench.

And a change for Brazil now: Danilo Santos in, Guimaraes off after assisting on the equalizer.

78 min 12 minutes left for either team to thwart Scotland’s suddenly realistic hopes of ending the day atop Group C. To be honest, I’d quite enjoy the sight of that…

Vini Jr. squares a cross to Raphina, who rolls an attempt right to Bono. The goalkeeper is a bit slow to get up from what looked to be a routine save. Is it gamesmanship or an actual issue with his lower left leg?

76 min Attendance: 82,500, we are told. A sell-out to start the tournament at the eventual site of its final.

74 min Friend of Fifa ishowspeed has made a quick jaunt to shake hands with PSG chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi, less than a day after getting roasted by Zlatan and Thierry Henry about his lack of understanding the sport.

The camera cut away as he was about to show his abs to someone else in the luxury zones. For the best.

72 min Morocco are quicker off the mark following the drinks break, with a nimble spin by Talbi just before goalscorer Sabari is whistled off after clanging a shot off of a defender. The reigning semifinalists continue to move their defensive block up and down the field to thwart Brazil’s hopes of finding a winner.

71 min Neymar is trying to do quite a lot of coaching along the sideline, trying to wave guys over to where he thinks they ought to be. It’s hard to take him entirely seriously in his backwards hat, as he still looks the 19-year-old kid.

Gulp gulp 2 Reader Michael wonders about how Brazil can keep up with youngsters like Bouaddi in the engine room…

“Ancelotti exchanging 34 year old Casemiro for (still only!) 32 year old Fabinho at halftime.

Are the two of them are on a government sponsored job share program for the summer?”

Brazil’s political leaders have already helped influence the squad a bit, with Ancelotti calling the president for counsel on what to do with Neymar. Carlo may need to keep rotating his veteran anchormen throughout these early stages, though I’d expect Casemiro to keep starting until he picks up a second yellow this summer.

68 min Time for a second drinks break, so I’ll make more progress on my sugar-free cola…

67 min Credit due to Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old midfielder who’s holding his own against oft-mighty Brazil. A very impressive shift so far by the teenager, though this game is starting to get a bit chippy.

64 min Fabinho with a convincing vampire impression as blood surrounds his mouth, heading off the pitch to get that taken care of to not stain his bright yellow shirt.

Morocco makes subs at last, with Brahim Diaz and a bemused-looking Ounahi exiting in lieu of Chemsdine Talbi and Samir El Mourabet. A bit of a disappointing start to the tournament for Brahim, who entered with much to prove after his poor Panenka late in the Afcon final.

62 min More Brazil subs, with Paqueta and Igor Thiago exiting. Matheus Cunha will now lead the line, while Luiz Enrique takes over for Paqueta as Ancelotti tries to create a spark.

Brazil now with just one sub remaining. Morocco has yet to change their personnel on the pitch.

60 min A bit of a masterclass in the tactical foul by both sides. This game is just about edge-of-box to edge-of-box, but still yet to really enter the realm of chaos.

Brazil enters this game with a nearly unblemished 17-3-0 record in World Cup openers. Will Morocco buck that trend, or can Brazil see out another result?

Reader Russell with more to say on a spectacled Carlo Ancelotti…

I like the new urbane, stylish Ancelotti. When he was at Chelsea he looked like a disheveled Harold Wilson: biscuit crumbs on his jacket, all sorts. Now - man ‘o the Copacabana.

Aging like a fine wine, that Don Carlo…

54 min Morocco has dropped its defensive block considerably deeper compared to the first half and tried to get into the attacking half with some rare possession. Instead, they create their own fire drill by sending a backpass directly to Vini Jr.

Hakimi able to get the ball back before Vini can fire, but Brazil have been far stronger to start this half than the last one.

53 min Some nimble footwork on the ball from Vini Jr finds absolutely nobody in yellow alongside him in the box. Igor Thiago and Raphina have really struggled to threaten Morocco…perhaps the youthful ingenuity of Endrick and/or Rayan and offer Vini an outlet.

Then again, a quick throw by Brazil finds Igor Thiago in the box before Morocco can react, but Bono parries his shot away. This half is finally heating up…

49 min Guimaraes a bit lucky to avoid a yellow after stepping on Hakimi’s boot. Ancelotti chomping on a wad of gum and donning some smart glasses, such an intellectual he is.

48 min Second verse, same as the first: Morocco rushing to the flanks whenever they get the ball, while Brazil seem more comfortable operating in the heart of the pitch.

46 min Off and trotting again in Jersey.

Two subs for Brazil, with Ancelotti hooking Casemiro and Ibañez after their first-half yellow cards. Fabinho will tuck into midfield, while Danilo deputizes at right-back.

Reader Oliver with a sage observation that I whole-heartedly endorse…

“If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from this World Cup so far it’s that a player wagging his finger at a ref means that the ref is 100% correct.”

Reader David checks in from Guatemala, where there appear to be some storms about…

“Watching this in an obscure corner of Guatemala. The level of don’t give a f***ery is impressive. Understandable if you’re Guatemalan. But the funny thing is that there are lots of Americans here. But they are completely uninterested too. I don’t know what that says. Something.”

Would love to see Guatemala make a long-awaited World Cup debut one of these cycles. I had the great pleasure of covering their Gold Cup quarterfinal win over Canada last summer in Minneapolis. An incredible amount of support for Los Chapines that day, and quite a moment when Rubio Rubin leveled things in the 69th!

Reader Emma reports from the Moroccan capital…

“Hi! I’m in Rabat, and the city is absolutely silent - no cars on the roads at all, every single person is watching this game. The chaos that will be unleashed if Morocco wins? I have no tv, and 2 sleeping kids next to me, so will be following along with you tonight, thanks!”

Have tried to keep this MBM at a volume level a librarian could love. I suspect a late winner might wake them up, though…

Tomorrow will bring the first games from Houston, though apparently the share of soccer fans isn’t bigger in Texas, as Nick Ames reports…

Houston is making its debut as a World Cup host city but, in this bubble of largely hard-line activists drawn from some of the state’s furthest corners, football’s proximity is largely viewed as an irrelevance. “You won’t find soccer fans here, we’re here for business,” says Jo, who has travelled from Dallas and wears a sequin-heavy stars and stripes dress. “I don’t mind it, but I’m not remotely into it.”

Your halftime xG ledger, per FotMob: Brazil 0.85 – 1.22 Morocco.

Morocco keeping Alisson on his toes as he sports his “Tame Impala, but a jock” look. Vini’s goal came from a 0.1 xG chance, while Saibari’s chip registered a massive 0.6 on the xG charts. It’s a high-quality chance when you’re already halfway around the goalkeeper, I suppose

45+3 min A nearly effort on the ensuing corner, as Raphinha’s inswinger is flicked on by Marquinhos (or was it Hakimi?). The ball drifts right in front of Igor Thiago but the Brentford forward isn’t able to react before it fizzes out of bounds.

45+2 min Bono finally forced into a save, as Paqueta’s nimble side volley goes to the goalkeeper’s left for a diving save.

45 min Four minutes of stoppage time.

43 min Quite a scrap in the Brazilian attacking corner between Mazraoui and Guimaraes, which is won by the Manchester United defender. The ensuing sequence upfield ends with a tactical foul by Roger Ibañez, who is shown a yellow card for his work.

41 min New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani shown on the Fox broadcast. No surprise, both given the proximity to his city and his stated prediction that Morocco will win this World Cup.

39 min Paqueta unable to get the ball off his foot just outside the edge of the box. The Fox broadcast relays that this is the first time that Vini Jr has managed to score against Hakimi.

Is there a third goal to be scored before the break?

37 min A first yellow card of the game, as Casemiro opts to stick a foot in to stop a Morocco run into the final third rather than more of that aforementioned hip-checking routine.

36 min Now it’s Morocco who seems content to let the opponent handle possession for a bit, trying to re-establish their defensive stronghold as Brazil tries to find a second. Some very good hip-to-hip clashes out there, good physical football with under 10 minutes until stoppage time.

After a few subpar tournament showings, Vini Jr makes his mark to get Brazil back into this game. Morocco switched 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 10th 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 are relentless with their 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 have 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.