The pick of the opening round delivered. Brazil against Morocco — the only two top-10 sides drawn together in the first round — ended 1-1 at a packed MetLife Stadium, with Vinícius Júnior the man to rescue the five-time champions.
Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists, played like the higher-ranked side for long spells and led through Ismael Saibari in the 21st minute. Brazil needed their talisman: Vinícius exchanged passes with Bruno Guimarães on the left, carved out a yard of space, and rifled a right-footed finish past Yassine Bounou to level just past the half-hour.
The draw extended one of football's more remarkable streaks — Brazil are now unbeaten in 21 consecutive World Cup openers, stretching all the way back to 1934. But Morocco will feel they let a statement win slip, and served notice that the gap to the giants has closed.
It is exactly the kind of fixture the expanded World Cup was built for. Read more on Vinícius and the rest of the stars to watch.