Brazil will begin its bid for a first World Cup title in 24 years on Saturday when Carlo Ancelotti’s side meets Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
That kickoff is the calendar’s clearest answer to anyone already asking “did brazil win”: the result will arrive at the final whistle. Until then, selection and tactics are the story. Ancelotti, supported by assistant Paul Clement, has picked a squad built around a supposed spine — and an attack that Clement called “the real strength of the team.”
Clement laid out the core he trusts: “The spine of the squad is very strong,” he said, naming Alisson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes and Paqueta. He ran through the forward options the coach can rely on, too: “Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, (Gabriel) Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, some fabulous younger players and, obviously, Neymar.” Those lists are the metrics by which Ancelotti’s Brazil will be judged on Saturday.
Context tightens the stakes. Ancelotti arrived to steer Brazil toward a first World Cup success in 24 years and brings to the job a reputation for managing star-filled dressing rooms from spells at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. “Carlo is always a great fit for a big team; big dressing room, big characters, big personalities,” Clement said. “He’s not looking for conflict with people. He’s looking to get the best out of them. He thrives in that type of environment.” Clement is part of the coaching staff and has described the atmosphere as unusually devout: “It’s obviously Brazilian,” he said. “It’s a very religious and very spiritual atmosphere. There’s prayer before the game and there’s prayer after the game, preceded by a few words from the captain or senior player, or the head coach or the director of the federation. It’s nice. It brings a lot of togetherness and camaraderie.”
The main practical complication ahead of kick-off is Neymar. Clement noted that Neymar was called into the World Cup squad almost three years after winning the most recent of his 128 caps. The forward is Brazil’s record goalscorer and his selection arrives amid a calf injury that has produced familiar melodrama around the team. Clement emphasised the leadership group that will steady any turbulence: “What I love about this team is that they’ve got a really good leadership group, with characters like Marquinhos, Alisson, Casemiro. Another one is Danilo, who is another super leader and strong character, whether he plays or not.”
What to watch on Saturday: how Ancelotti balances his spine and his stars. Will the coach protect Neymar’s fitness or push him into an early, decisive role? Can the defensive leaders Clement mentions set the tone against Morocco and give the attacking cohort the platform to produce moments of quality? Brazil’s selection choices and in-game substitutions will reveal whether Ancelotti’s approach — the calm management of high-profile players he’s praised for — translates into immediate control on the pitch.
The match is the next concrete test. It will not only answer the simple search “did brazil win,” but also decide whether Ancelotti’s gamble on Neymar and the broader squad construction begins as considered method or avoidable risk. Saturday’s result will shape Brazil’s path and settle the most urgent unanswered question: how durable is this group under pressure?
