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SURYAMALANG.COM, SURABAYA - The Brazilian national football team is set to face a tough challenge from the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, Morocco, in their Group C fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match will take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday morning, June 15, 2026, Indian Standard Time.

This encounter is expected to be highly competitive, as the Atlas Lions arrive with a star-studded squad featuring top European league players, along with the confidence of having defeated Brazil in a friendly match back in 2023.

Nevertheless, Madura United assistant coach Rakhmat Basuki believes the Selecao will prevail, relying on their superior mentality and extensive experience on the global stage.

Brazil Ready to Face Morocco

Many observers predict this clash will be extremely tight.

Morocco, coming in as the African champions, are widely regarded as being well-prepared to put up a fierce fight throughout the 90 minutes.

“Brazil versus Morocco, I predict this will be a very close match,” said Madura United assistant coach Rakhmat Basuki on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

“This is because Morocco are a strong team with several players competing in top European leagues,” he added.

The Star-Studded Atlas Lions Squad

Morocco have assembled a formidable lineup for the 2026 World Cup.

Three of their key players are major European club stars: Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United, and Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid.

Interestingly, the Atlas Lions have already proven their quality against the Selecao, having defeated Brazil 2-1 in a friendly match in 2023.

Additionally, at the previous 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco made history by advancing to the semifinals — a remarkable achievement for the African nation.

Despite Morocco’s impressive credentials, Rakhmat Basuki emphasised that Brazil’s mentality and illustrious history should not be underestimated.

“But Brazil, with their vast experience in major tournaments like the World Cup and the support of their star players, will win this match narrowly,” Rakhmat Basuki asserted.

The Glorious Legacy of the Samba Team

To date, Brazil remain the most successful national team in World Cup history, with five titles won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.

This record surpasses that of both Germany and Italy, who have each claimed four championships.

The Samba Team also hold the distinction of being the only nation to have qualified for every edition of the World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1930.

In addition to their five titles, Brazil have finished as runners-up twice (1950 and 1998), secured third place twice (1938 and 1978), and ended in fourth place on two occasions (1974 and 2014).

With such an illustrious history and a squad filled with world-class talent, Rakhmat Basuki is confident that the Selecao will be able to withstand the challenge posed by the African champions.

“I predict Brazil will beat Morocco 2-1,” he concluded.