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Group C delivered a real opening-day mix: a marquee heavyweight draw and a first win for one of the tournament's feel-good stories. Morocco held five-time world champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw, while Scotland marked their long-awaited return to the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Haiti. Here is where the group stands and what comes next.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco: Saibari Lights Up MetLife
Morocco arrived at MetLife Stadium with belief, and they backed it up. The Atlas Lions started brightly, with Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi both threatening early — one effort smothered inside the box, the other flashing across the face of goal.
Midway through the first half came the moment of the night. Brahim Díaz slipped Ismael Saibari clean through, and the PSV midfielder kept his composure to dink a gorgeous finish over the onrushing Alisson Becker. It was a goal worthy of any stage.
Brazil, who had been building momentum before the goal, responded with even greater intensity — and who else but Vinícius Júnior to level it. The Real Madrid forward drifted in from the left and lashed an unstoppable strike into the far corner. Right on half-time, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced a superb save to turn a Lucas Paquetá effort to safety and keep the scores level. A 1-1 draw was a fine result for Morocco. Relive it on our Brazil vs Morocco page.
Scotland 1-0 Haiti: McGinn Ends a Long Wait
For Scotland, this was a first World Cup appearance since 1998, and the Tartan Army made the most of it. Tens of thousands of travelling fans belted out "Flower of Scotland" beforehand at Gillette Stadium and turned the closing stages into a party, with "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" ringing around the stands.
The decisive moment arrived on 28 minutes. Aston Villa captain John McGinn pounced on the rebound after Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide had parried a Che Adams effort, firing home what proved to be the winner. Haiti pushed late on, and Frantzdy Pierrot headed a presentable chance just wide, but Scotland held on. McGinn became Scotland's first World Cup scorer since Craig Burley back in 1998 — a neat piece of history to go with three precious points. See the full result on our Haiti vs Scotland page.
How Group C Looks After Matchday 1
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Morocco | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Haiti | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
It is Scotland, somewhat unexpectedly, who sit top after the opening round, with Brazil and Morocco level on a point apiece and Haiti still searching for theirs. With the expanded format rewarding the best third-placed sides, every team in this group still has plenty to play for.
What's Next in Group C
The second round of fixtures brings a fascinating subplot. Scotland face Morocco in Scotland vs Morocco — a repeat of a 1998 group meeting and a huge test for the Tartan Army as they chase qualification. Meanwhile, Brazil will expect to get their campaign up and running against Haiti in Brazil vs Haiti. Both results could reshape the table dramatically.
Be There for the Drama
From Brazilian flair to the roar of the Tartan Army, Group C has it all. Browse every available fixture on our World Cup 2026 tickets page and secure your seat before the biggest games sell out.
