World Cup 2026 Preview: Brazil’s Opening Night Test and Germany’s Expected Rout Headline Weekend Action

🏆 Match Predictions

🔥 The Big One: Brazil vs Morocco Under the MetLife Lights

This Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, hosts what might be the best matchup of the entire group stage. Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Morocco, aiming to win their first World Cup since 2002, which would be the sixth time they would have won the tournament overall. And honestly? This is the type of game that gives me chills — five-time champions opening against a team that genuinely believes it belongs on this stage.

The last time the World Cup was held in the United States, Brazil lifted the trophy with that 1994 win giving them a then-record fourth title. But that was 32 years ago. Ancelotti’s side endured a difficult qualification campaign and recent friendly losses to the likes of Japan and France have raised questions, and this game takes on more importance since finishing second in Group C will have Brazil likely facing France or Spain in the early knockout stages. Translation: they need this win badly.

Unlike other teams who open their campaign against more modest oppositions, Brazil have a rough start facing the reigning African champions Morocco in what is expected to be their sternest group test, and with Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz in their ranks, the Moroccan side is full of promise and firepower. This isn’t the Morocco of 1998 when Brazil cruised 3-0 — Morocco built on their semifinal appearance at the 2022 World Cup with a first-ever victory at the African Cup of Nations, though Walid Regrarui, the coach that led them there, has since resigned with Mohamed Ouahbi replacing him. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi guided Morocco’s U-20 side to a World Cup victory in 2025, defeating Argentina, so the man knows how to win when it matters.

The narrative here is fascinating. Brazil will be without its all-time leading goalscorer as Neymar Jr. is out in this opening match. Although they will not have Neymar, who continues recovering from injury, the attack still has plenty of talent with players such as Vinicius Jr., who will have even more responsibility to create chances and become the main attacking reference for the Canarinha. Can Vinicius carry this team the way Neymar used to? World Cup 2026 predictions have Brazil favored at 57% to win, but Morocco aren’t here to make up the numbers — they’re here to shock the world again.

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🚨 Key Issues and Storylines

📅 What Else is Cooking This Weekend?

Beyond the Brazil-Morocco fireworks on Saturday, the World Cup preview stretches into Sunday with some compelling storylines. On Saturday 13 June, Qatar and Switzerland open Group B before Brazil face Morocco and Haiti meet Scotland in Group C, and Australia begin their campaign against Turkiye in Group D.

Sunday’s schedule includes Australia vs Turkiye at midnight ET, Germany vs Curacao at 1 p.m. ET, Netherlands vs Japan at 4 p.m. ET, and Ivory Coast vs Ecuador at 7 p.m. ET. The Netherlands-Japan clash particularly intrigues me. The Dutch have the deepest squad on paper and will be expected to take control but Japan arrive with serious dark-horse energy after impressing in 2022 and qualifying quickly this time around. Their 2022 wins over Spain and Germany were not flukes — Japan are technically sharp, tactically flexible and deep enough to change shape and personnel without losing too much rhythm.

The win probability data shows Netherlands at 48%, Japan at 26%, with a 26% draw chance. That’s far tighter than you’d expect for a European power against an Asian side. This genuinely feels like a pick-em game when you factor in Japan’s recent form and tactical sophistication.

Haiti vs Scotland on Saturday night is also worth your attention — 63% probability for the Scots, but Group C consists of Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland, making this a must-win for Scotland if they want any chance of escaping the group. Lose to Haiti, and they’re basically toast before facing Brazil and Morocco.

Then there’s the Germany situation. Julian Nagelsmann’s side have had a solid build-up to the World Cup, beating Finland 4-0 and the United States 2-1 ahead of the tournament to extend their winning run to nine straight matches. Ranked 82nd in the FIFA rankings and largely made up of players based in the Netherlands, World Cup debutants Curacao are among the lowest-ranked teams at the tournament only ahead of Haiti (83rd) and New Zealand (85th), though their most high-profile players include captain and former Aston Villa midfielder Leandro Bacuna as well as Sheffield United attacker Tahith Chong.

Should be a massacre, right? But remember — West Germany lost to debutants Algeria 1-2 in the 1982 World Cup, a tournament in which Algeria were making their debut. History has a way of humbling favorites when they get complacent. That said, I expect Germany to absolutely steamroll Curacao and use this as a statement game to wash away the ghosts of their last two World Cup disasters.