Thousands of Brazil fans took over Times Square on Saturday, hours before La Canarinha's debut in the , turning the heart of Manhattan into a yellow and green tide that brought the iconic New York square to a standstill.
The spontaneous and massive gathering completely filled the streets and sidewalks of Times Square with Brazilian flags, drums, and chants. FIFA itself described the scene on its social media with the phrase "It’s carnival in New York City; Brazilian fans are in full swing ahead of their World Cup debut."
The Brazilian community in New York, one of the largest diasporas from the country in North America, turned Times Square into the natural meeting point for the thousands of fans who traveled to or reside in the city to experience the tournament. Media outlets like ESPN and TV Azteca also captured the spectacular atmosphere leading up to the match.
The debut of Brazil took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against Morocco, as part of Group C of the 2026 World Cup. The result, however, did not live up to the pre-match festivities: 1-1 draw that the media described as a disappointing start for La Canarinha.
Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead in the 21st minute with a shot after a pass from Brahim Díaz, and Vinícius Júnior equalized for Brazil in the 32nd minute with a long-range shot that beat goalkeeper Bono.
It was also the debut of Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil's coach in a World Cup, and the result left both teams with one point each in the Group C, which also includes Scotland and Haiti.
The big absence from the match was Neymar Jr., who was unable to play due to a grade II calf injury sustained in mid-May. Nevertheless, the Brazilian star was present at the stadium, supporting his teammates from the bench, and stepped onto the pitch after the final whistle.
With this draw, Brazil and Morocco share the provisional second place in Group C, each with one point, while Scotland leads with three points after defeating Haiti 1-0 in the opening match.
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