Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti did not hide his disappointment after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The five-time world champions failed to make a winning start, with Vinícius Júnior scoring Brazil's only goal of the game.

Speaking after the final whistle, Ancelotti acknowledged that his team struggled to settle into the contest and paid the price for a nervy opening performance.

"I think we started the game poorly. The team was a little anxious, we lost too many balls and too many duels. The first half was not good enough," said the Italian manager.

While Brazil improved significantly after the break, Ancelotti admitted that Morocco posed serious problems throughout the match.

"Things improved in the second half, but it was a difficult game because Morocco are a very good team. They were able to escape our pressure and create dangerous transitions. We should have controlled the game better," he explained.

The former Real Madrid boss remains confident that his players will respond positively in their next fixture but stressed that improvements are needed, particularly in possession.

"The team will play better in the next match. We had too many problems in the first half and gave the ball away far too often. This is an area we must improve. At the same time, we cannot lose confidence. Anything can happen in a team's first World Cup match, and no side is perfect in its opening game."

Despite avoiding defeat, Ancelotti made it clear that a draw falls short of expectations for a nation with Brazil's ambitions.

"I am not satisfied with the result. We need to keep working and improve our performances, but that is normal. Morocco played very well. They were extremely organised and made life difficult for us."