Group C preview: Neymar’s last dance meets Morocco’s hot challenge
The easiest thing to do in Group C is to look at the teams and assume that Brazil will finish on top.
The hardest part is figuring out everything that comes after.
Because while the five-time world champions arrive in North America with the familiar weight of expectation, all three teams alongside them have stories that make this group far more interesting than meets the eye.
Morocco are no longer football’s favorite underdogs after becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. After a 28-year wait, Scotland is finally back and desperate to make up for lost time. Haiti returns to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1974 and carries one of the most remarkable stories from the tournament’s qualification.
And hovering over it all is a name that has followed the World Cup for more than a decade.
Neymar.
For a generation, Brazil at the World Cup meant Neymar dancing after a goal, Neymar carrying expectations on his shoulders and Neymar trying to drag football’s most respected nation one step closer to the next star above the badge.
There were times when it really looked like Qatar might be his last World Cup. After battling serious injury threats at the end of the season that even derailed his stint in the Saudi Pro League without any meaningful minutes. Even after rejoining his boyhood club Santos in Brazil, prospects began to dim. Just as the World Cup approached, the rapid rise of Neymar’s desire to fight injuries and regain his form began.
When hope looked bleak for the Brazilian superstar, representing his country, he excelled as he had many times before.
At 34, with Carlo Ancelotti in charge and Brazil chasing their first World Cup title since 2002, Neymar is getting another shot at the trophy that was always destined for him but somehow never arrived. Although likely to miss Brazil’s opening match against MoroccoAncelotti insisted Neymar will be key to Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
Whether this becomes his farewell tour, Morocco’s next statement to the footballing world, Scotland’s breakthrough moment or Haiti’s dream summer remains to be seen.
Luminaires of group C
- June 14 (3:30 IST) – Brazil vs Morocco, East Rutherford
- June 14 (6:30 IST) – Scotland vs Haiti, Foxborough
- June 20 (3:30 IST) – Morocco Vs. Scotland, Foxborough
- June 20 (6:00 AM IST) – Brazil vs Haiti, Philadelphia
- June 25 (3:30 IST) – Brazil vs Scotland, Miami
- June 25 (3:30 IST) – Morocco vs Haiti, Atlanta
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 GROUP C: MEET THE TEAMS
BRAZIL
Brazil is the only country to appear at every FIFA World Cup and remain the competition’s most successful side with five titles. Yet for all their history and prestige, they arrive in North America with more questions than the typical Brazilian team.
Their last World Cup triumph came in 2002. Since then, several talented generations have fallen behind. Quarter-final exits in both 2018 and 2022 have extended the wait for a sixth crown, while a turbulent qualifying campaign has left many wondering if Brazil have lost some of their old aura. Can Ancelotti bring back Brazil’s glory days? (Photo by Reuters)
Concerns peaked after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina in 2025, which ultimately cost Dorival Junior his place.
This paved the way for Carlo Ancelotti.
Few managers understand tournament football better than the Italian. With five Champions League titles and decades of experience managing superstar dressing rooms, Ancelotti was tasked with restoring composure to a team that had begun to look surprisingly vulnerable.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
For all the tactical tweaks and fresh faces, Brazil’s biggest asset remains unchanged: outrageous attacking talent.
Raphinha arrives in North America to play the best football of his career and looks like a player capable of carrying Brazil’s attack. Vinicius Junior still has the ability to turn defenders upside down on a nightly basis, while Endrick awaits his chance to introduce himself to the wider world in true Brazilian style.
And yet, whenever Brazil is mentioned, the conversation always turns to one name.
Neymar.
Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s curiosity. Or maybe it’s because football fans just can’t resist a comeback story.
But Neymar somehow found his way back into the story.
Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include him in the squad instantly gave Brazil’s campaign a different energy. No one is asking him to be the one-man show of 2014 or 2018. That burden now belongs to the younger generation. Yet Neymar remains a player who can make an entire stadium lean forward in anticipation the moment he gets to the ball.
This may not be Neymar’s Brazil anymore. Attention is now shared, perhaps even passed on. But if the Selecao do end up lifting the trophy, don’t be surprised if some of the defining images of the tournament feature the No. 10 smiling, dancing and reminding the world why he’s impossible to ignore.
A KEY PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Raphinha
Neymar may dominate the headlines, but Raphinha could end up being Brazil’s most decisive player.
The Barcelona winger has developed into one of the most complete strikers in world football, combining creativity, goals and tireless work ethic. With opponents likely to focus heavily on Vinicius and Neymar, Raphinh’s ability to find space and create chances could prove key. Is it 2026 Raphinha’s time to shine in Brazilian colours? (Photo by Reuters)
Endrick
Every World Cup produces a breakout star. Brazil will be hoping Endrick is next.
The teenager enjoyed a superb second half of the season on loan at Lyon, registering 16 goal contributions in 21 games. Fearless and explosive, he has the qualities to change games in an instant.
MOROCCO
It was impossible to ignore Morocco’s journey in Qatar four years ago.
After stunning Spain and Portugal, they became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and changed perceptions of what teams from the continent can achieve on football’s biggest stage.
The challenge is different now.
Morocco will no longer surprise anyone.
The Atlas Lions arrive in North America as the reigning African champions and eighth in the FIFA rankings. They’ve evolved from underdogs to true contenders, and that brings a very different kind of pressure.
The managerial change added another layer of intrigue. Mohamed Ouahbi replaced Walid Regragui earlier this year after leading Morocco’s under-20 team to world glory and now inherits arguably the most talented squad in the country’s history.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The fundamentals that made Morocco so difficult to beat in 2022 remain intact.
Yassine Bounou is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Achraf Hakimi remains the heart of the party. Noussair Mazraoui continues to provide quality and experience.
The difference now is what Morocco can offer in the future.
They are a much more adventurous side than the one that reached the semi-finals in Qatar. During their AFCON winning campaign, they led the tournament in touches inside the opponent’s box and consistently pushed the opposition high up the field.
The likes of Brahim Diaz, Abde Ezzalzouli and Neil El Aynaoui have added creativity and attacking variety to a team previously defined almost entirely by its defensive organisation.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Achraf Hakimi
Fresh from yet another Champions League triumph with PSG, Hakimi heads into the tournament in arguably the best form of his career.
Whether Morocco defends deep or attacks aggressively, everything tends to flow through him. The PSG star is a favorite of Morocco. (Photo by Reuters)
Brahim Diaz
The Real Madrid forward was one of the AFCON standout performers and continues to grow into Morocco’s creative leader.
Direct, fearless and capable of unlocking compact defences, Diaz could be the player to elevate Morocco from dangerous outsiders to genuine contenders.
SCOTLAND
Twenty eight years.
That’s how long Scotland have waited to return to the World Cup.
They last appeared in France in 1998. Since then, generations of Scotland fans have watched the World Cup and wondered what it would be like to be a part of it again.
Now they finally get a chance.
Steve Clarke deserves huge credit for the transformation. Since taking charge in 2019, he has restored faith in a national team that has spent a decade drifting between disappointment and frustration.
Nobody expects Scotland to light up the tournament with flair. What they do have is organization, physicality and a clear identity. Scotland are hard to break down, dangerous from set pieces and full of players who thrive in chaotic games.
The goal is simple. Beat Haiti, face Morocco and Brazil and give yourself a chance to slip through as one of the best teams in third place.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Scott McTominay
There are few players more important to their national team than McTominay.
The Napoli midfielder has developed into Scotland’s leader, goalscorer and emotional pulse. Whether he’s coming into the box late or pulling his team through tough times, he remains the player Scotland turn to when they need inspiration. Scott McTominay’s iconic goal that explains the hype perfectly. (Photo by Reuters)
Ben Free
Still only 20, Doak is regarded as one of Scotland’s brightest prospects.
His pace and direct running offer something different to a side that often relies on structure and discipline.
HAITI
The Caribbean nation is returning to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1974 after overcoming huge challenges during qualification, including playing many matches away from home due to security concerns.
The qualification itself felt like a victory.
Now comes the difficult part. Haiti know they enter the tournament as outsiders.
Head coach Sebastien Migne has built a disciplined team that stays compact without the ball and looks to strike quickly in transition.
They can’t dominate possession against any team in the group, but they are organized enough to make life difficult.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Wilson Isidor
The Sunderland striker is arguably Haiti’s best-known attacking threat.
His pace, movement and finishing ability offer Haiti hope of springing a surprise.
Reuben Providence
The winger has the kind of directness that can trouble defenders in one-on-one situations.
If Haiti is to cause a shock, Providence is likely to be at its center.
GROUP C PREDICTION
1. Brazil
2. Morocco
3. Scotland
4. Haiti
Brazil remain favourites, but it doesn’t look like the straightforward group many expected.
Morocco have the quality and confidence to push them through, Scotland will believe qualification is within reach and Haiti will arrive determined to enjoy every minute of their long-awaited comeback.
And somewhere in the middle of it all stands Neymar.
Maybe for one World Cup final.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
05 Jun 2026 07:00 IST