Brazil open their World Cup 2026 campaign on Saturday, June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium — and for the first time in their history, the Seleção arrive with a foreign-born head coach. Here is the complete Group C guide: every fixture in ET, the full squad picture, and where to watch legally in the United States.
Group C: the lay of the land
The December draw placed Brazil in Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland and Haiti. On paper it is a manageable route, but it opens against the toughest opponent of the three: Morocco reached the semifinals in Qatar four years ago and remain the highest-achieving African side in tournament history.
All three of Brazil’s group matches are on the US East Coast — New Jersey, Philadelphia and Miami Gardens — which means friendly kickoff windows for American viewers and minimal travel fatigue, a real factor in a tournament spread across three countries.
Brazil fixtures: Group C schedule (ET)
Every Brazil group-stage match, with venues and Eastern Time kickoffs confirmed by the official tournament schedule.
| Date (2026) | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, June 13 | Morocco | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | 6:00 PM | FOX / Telemundo |
| Fri, June 19 | Haiti | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 8:30 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Wed, June 24 | Scotland | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 6:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
The opener is staged at the same New Jersey venue that hosts the final on July 19 — a stadium Brazil could see twice if the bracket breaks their way. Read our MetLife Stadium deep dive for what that building is like on match day.
The squad: Ancelotti’s 26
Carlo Ancelotti named his 26-man squad on May 18 in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first non-Brazilian to coach the Seleção at a World Cup. The attack is built around Vinícius Júnior — scorer of the goal that sealed qualification — with Raphinha wide on the other flank and Bruno Guimarães anchoring midfield.
The headline call was Neymar. At 34, the national team’s all-time record scorer made the cut, though a calf problem leaves his availability for the Morocco opener in doubt. The leadership group is shared: Marquinhos and Casemiro split the captaincy. Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus and 113-cap veteran Thiago Silva were the most notable omissions.
World Cup pedigree
Five stars on the shirt: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 — no nation has more. Brazil are also the only team to appear at every World Cup since 1930, a 23-tournament streak. The flip side: the trophy drought now stretches 24 years, the longest in the country’s history. Our statistical retrospective of every winner puts that drought in context.
Tactical profile
Ancelotti has imported the pragmatism that won him five Champions League titles: a compact 4-3-3 that defends in a mid-block and releases Vinícius and Raphinha into space on fast transitions. Expect less of the old jogo bonito possession carousel and more verticality — the staff tracks expected goals (xG) from open play and transition volume as its core metrics.
The midfield triangle of Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and a shuttler gives Brazil control in the buildup, while the full-backs stay noticeably more conservative than in past cycles — a direct response to the counterattacks that eliminated them in 2022.
How to watch in the USA
In the United States, every World Cup 2026 match airs in English on FOX or FS1, with streaming via the FOX Sports app. Spanish-language coverage runs on Telemundo and Universo, with all 104 matches streaming on Peacock. Brazil’s opener against Morocco is scheduled for the main FOX network window at 6 PM ET.
Full national-TV details for every team are in our official US broadcast guide. The complete squad list and team news are published on FIFA’s official tournament site.
FAQ
When does Brazil play their first World Cup 2026 match?
Brazil open against Morocco on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — the same stadium that hosts the final on July 19.
Is Neymar in Brazil’s World Cup 2026 squad?
Yes. Neymar, 34, was included in Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad announced on May 18, 2026, but a calf injury left his availability for the opener against Morocco in doubt.
What channel is Brazil vs Morocco on in the USA?
The match airs in English on FOX with streaming on the FOX Sports app, and in Spanish on Telemundo with streaming on Peacock. Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET on June 13, 2026.
Who is in Brazil’s World Cup 2026 group?
Group C contains Brazil, Morocco, Scotland and Haiti. Brazil face Morocco on June 13, Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia, and Scotland on June 24 in Miami Gardens.