Brazil vs the Brazil of Africa — it's time for the first World Cup blockbuster!

Morocco captured the world's attention at the last World Cup by becoming the first African nation ever to reach the semi-finals. Their historic run was eventually ended by France, while Croatia defeated them in the third-place playoff. Nevertheless, the Atlas Lions left Qatar with their heads held high and immediately turned their focus toward the next World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Moroccans arrived in North America full of confidence, not only because of their remarkable achievement four years ago but also thanks to their Under-20 World Cup triumph. The North African nation has built a footballing system that is now producing tangible results, and the benefits are clear to see. As a result, despite facing Brazil in their opening match, excitement is building across Morocco ahead of their first appearance at this year's World Cup.

The Group C showdown is scheduled for midnight between Saturday and Sunday, and ahead of the game, Achraf Hakimi delivered comments that perfectly reflect the mood within the Moroccan camp.

"We are focused on giving our best and achieving the best possible result. That's all we're thinking about. We are the Brazil of Africa — everyone knows that. I think everyone is aware of Brazil's team and the quality of their players. We are ready for them, and personally I can't wait for the match to begin. Our goal is to make the Moroccan fans happy. We want to leave a great impression at the World Cup, and we are prepared for that. It's up to us how we start the tournament, regardless of the fact that we're playing against Brazil," said the right-back of Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team during a press conference.

Brazil’s relationship with the World Cup is unmatched. The South American giants are the only nation to have appeared in every edition of the tournament since it began in 1930 and remain its most successful team with five titles to their name. Yet despite their rich history, the Selecao have gone 24 years without lifting the trophy — their longest wait since becoming world champions for the first time.

Interestingly, Brazil’s previous 24-year title drought came to an end at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, the last time the competition was hosted on American soil. Supporters will be hoping history repeats itself this summer.

In a bid to restore Brazil to the top of world football, the federation has placed its trust in renowned Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, marking the first time a foreign manager has taken charge of the national team. Expectations were lowered after an inconsistent qualifying campaign, but with the tournament now underway, optimism has once again begun to spread among Brazilian fans.

Their opening assignment, however, is anything but straightforward. Standing in their way is a Morocco side that made history in Qatar by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Since then, the Atlas Lions have continued their rise, adding an Africa Cup of Nations title to their growing list of achievements earlier this year.

Much has changed behind the scenes, though. Walid Regragui, the coach who oversaw Morocco’s remarkable transformation, stepped down just three months before the World Cup. His successor, Mohamed Ouahbi, has taken over the reins, but the team’s identity and momentum appear largely unchanged heading into the tournament.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE

First round

Thursday, 11.06.

Mexico - S.Africa 2-0 (1-0)

/Quinones 9, Jimenez 67/

Friday, 12. 06.

South Korea - Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0)

/Hwang In Beom 67, Oh Hyeon-Gyu 80 - Krejci 59/

Canada - B&H 1-1 (0-1)

/Larin 78 - Lukic 21/

Saturday, 13.06.

USA - Paraguay 4-1 (3-0)

/Bobadilla 7 og, Balogun 31, 45+5, Reyna 90+8 - Mauricio 73/

22.00: (12.0) Qatar (5.40) Switzerland (1.28)

Sunday, 14.06.

01.00: (1.62) Brazil (3.80) Morocco (5.80)

04.00: (6.80) Haiti (4.45) Scotland (1.47)

07.00: (4.50) Australia (3.50) Turkey (1.83)

20.00: (1.03) Germany (15.0) Curacao (50.0)

23.00: (2.10) Netherlands (3.45) Japan (3.50)