Brazil open against Morocco missing Neymar and a reshuffled defence. Africa's semi-finalists smell blood. Our prediction, tips and projected XIs.
World Cup 2026 Preview: Brazil Meet Morocco In Day 3 Heat
This is the first proper heavyweight day of the World Cup.
Qatar and Switzerland open the day with Group B already moving .
Canada and Bosnia drew 1-1 on Friday, so there's a chance to jump straight to the top before the group starts lying to itself about permutations.
Then Brazil meet Morocco in the game that actually owns the poster.
Five-time winners against Africa's loudest modern argument.
Ancelotti in yellow.
Morocco with receipts from Qatar 2022 and enough controversy around their AFCON crown to power a whole week of football radio.
After that, Haiti and Scotland give Group C its emotional fixture, before Australia and Turkey close the day in Group D. Four games.
Two groups already shaped by earlier results. One African giant with a chance to remind everyone that their 2022 run was not a cute little holiday story.
Brazil have history. Morocco have receipts. That is usually where a football match stops being polite.
Qatar vs Switzerland — Group B — Santa Clara, 8pm (UK)
Group B has already moved, so this is simple: win, and you sit top before the group starts lying to itself about permutations.
Qatar are back-to-back Asian champions, but Switzerland arrive with the tournament muscle of a side that keeps reaching World Cups like it is renewing a subscription.
Granit Xhaka is still the heartbeat.
He does not just pass the ball, he tells the whole team when to breathe.
Switzerland should have the better control, the better defensive shape, and the cleaner route to chances.
Qatar need Akram Afif to turn this into a problem.
If he gets isolated and Switzerland pin them back, this can become a long afternoon of Qatar clearing crosses and pretending they are "growing into the game".
Projected Qatar XI: M. Ibrahim Abunada; Ayoub Al Oui, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Homam Ahmed; Ahmed Fathy, Jassem Gaber, Karim Boudiaf; Edmilson Junior, Almoez Ali, Akram Afif.
Projected Switzerland XI: Gregor Kobel; Silvan Widmer, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka; Ruben Vargas, Fabian Rieder, Michel Aebischer; Breel Embolo.
Team news: Qatar have no major injury concern reported.
Ruben Vargas is a game-time decision for Switzerland but is still in the projected XI, if he misses out, Switzerland lose one of their better wide threats and set-piece options.
Prediction: Qatar 0-2 Switzerland.
Tip: Switzerland to win (Banker of the day). Too organised, too mature, and too good at making matches boring in their favour.
Brazil vs Morocco — Group C — New York/New Jersey, 11pm (UK)
This is the biggest game of the day. No debate.
Brazil are still Brazil. Five World Cups. Carlo Ancelotti on the bench. Vinicius Junior on the left.
Enough talent to make most countries feel like they accidentally entered the wrong tournament.
But this Brazil side also arrives with bruises.
Neymar is out, and the attack now has to prove it can carry the shirt without waiting for the No.10 myth to save it.
That is why Morocco will fancy this more than people think.
They shocked the world in Qatar by reaching the semi-finals, beating Spain and Portugal on the way.
And now they walk into this tournament as the team everyone respects but nobody wants to admit they fear.
Lovely place to be.
Morocco's AFCON crown is still contested, a title that ended up settled off the pitch as much as on it, and the row hasn't fully died down.
Very African football. Very messy. Very on-brand.
But take away the politics and the football is still serious.
Achraf Hakimi gives them elite power on the right. Azzedine Ounahi can glide through midfield like he is avoiding Lagos traffic.
Brahim Diaz gives them that final-third arrogance every serious team needs.
The problem is the injury list. Nayef Aguerd is out of the World Cup.
Abde Ezzalzouli is out for the group stage. Noussair Mazraoui is a doubt but still projected to start.
Against Brazil, those are not small scratches. Those are doors Vinicius will keep knocking on until someone answers badly.
For Africa, this is the game. Morocco can give the continent volume. Beat Brazil and the whole tournament changes its tone.
Projected Brazil XI: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes; Lucas Paqueta, Raphinha, Vinicius Junior; Igor Thiago.
Projected Morocco XI: Bono; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Nabil El Aynaoui, Amine Bouaddi; Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Ilias Saibari.
Team news: Neymar has been ruled out of this match with a calf injury and could return for the Haiti game.
Brazil are also without Rodrygo, Estevao, Militao and right-back Wesley, with Igor Thiago expected to lead the line.
Morocco are without Aguerd and Ezzalzouli, while Mazraoui is a fitness call but still projected to play.
Prediction: Brazil 2-1 Morocco.
Tip: Both teams to score. Brazil edge it, but a reshuffled back line minus Wesley meets Hakimi and Brahim Diaz, Morocco have the firepower to punish one lapse.
Haiti vs Scotland — Group C — Boston, 2am (UK, Sunday)
This is the emotional game. Haiti are back at the World Cup after 52 years. Scotland are back after 28. Basically, both fanbases have waited long enough to become suspicious of happiness.
Scotland should have more structure and more top-level experience, but this is the exact match where they must not do Scotland things. They still have Brazil and Morocco waiting. Drop points here and the group starts looking like a locked door.
Haiti are not just a feel-good story. Duckens Nazon, Wilson Isidor and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde give them enough threat to make this uncomfortable. Scotland need Scott McTominay fit and loud in midfield. Without control there, this becomes a scrap, and scraps are where favourites start making funny faces.
Projected Haiti XI: Johny Placide; Carlens Arcus, Ricardo Ade, Garven Metusala, Alex Christian; Bryan Alceus, Leverton Pierre, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde; Duckens Nazon, Wilson Isidor, Frantzdy Pierrot.
Projected Scotland XI: Angus Gunn; Aaron Hickey, Grant Hanley, John Souttar, Andy Robertson; Ben Gannon-Doak, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; Lawrence Shankland, Che Adams.
Team news: Haiti have no major injuries reported. Scotland are without Billy Gilmour (knee, out of the tournament), Scott McKenna is a doubt with a knock, and Scott McTominay has shaken off the illness that disrupted his week and is set to start.
Prediction: Haiti 1-2 Scotland.
Tip: Scotland to win. Eight goals in their last two warm-ups and the better squad by distance — but Haiti's counters mean a clean sheet is the part to leave alone.
Australia vs Turkey — Group D — Vancouver, 5am (UK, Sunday)
USA already smashed Paraguay 4-1, so Group D has a loud leader.
That puts pressure on both Australia and Turkey before they even kick a ball.
Nobody wants to start a World Cup looking up at the host nation with goal difference laughing in your face.
Turkey are favourites and they should be.
Arda Guler gives them invention. Hakan Calhanoglu gives them control. Baris Yilmaz gives them running power.
That is not a bad mix unless you enjoy suffering.
Australia will not care.
The Socceroos live for being underestimated.
Tony Popovic says they are ready to spoil the party, and honestly, that is the most Australian sentence possible before a tournament opener.
The Turkish injury picture is the swing factor.
Calhanoglu, Kenan Yildiz and Ferdi Kadioglu have all been listed as game-time decisions, with Yildiz the biggest doubt.
If Turkey lose two of those names, this match gets much uglier, much quicker.
Projected Australia XI: Mathew Ryan; Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar; Jordan Bos, Jackson Irvine, Conor Metcalfe, Jacob Italiano; Cristian Volpato, Ajdin Hrustic; Mohamed Toure.
Projected Turkey XI: Ugurcan Cakir; Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu; Hakan Calhanoglu, Orkun Kokcu; Baris Yilmaz, Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz; Kerem Akturkoglu.
Team news: Australia have no major injury concern, though Mohamed Toure is a fitness watch up front.
Turkey have game-time calls on Calhanoglu, Yildiz and Kadioglu, with Deniz Gul a possible starter if Montella wants a more orthodox striker.
Prediction: Australia 1-2 Turkey.
Tip: Turkey to win. More quality even shorn of a doubtful Yildiz, and Australia's attack is blunt outside Irankunda, backing the win is cleaner than chasing goals.
Banker Of The Day
Switzerland to beat Qatar. It is the cleanest call of the day. Better balance, better tournament experience, and a midfield leader in Xhaka who can control the mood before Qatar even find their rhythm.
Upset Special
Morocco to get something against Brazil.
I am still predicting Brazil to edge it, but the upset route is obvious: Morocco slow the game, attack the spaces behind Brazil's full-backs, and turn the match into a test of Brazilian patience.
With Neymar out and the back line reshuffled, if Brazil start playing like the shirt alone wins matches, Morocco will drag them into the mud.
Today belongs to Brazil vs Morocco.
The five-time kings against Africa's loudest modern argument.
If Morocco pull this off, we are not calling them surprise package anymore.
We are calling them contenders and behaving like adults.
Back any of these? Tell me what you're rolling with today.
