EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — World Cup pressure can get to anyone. Even Brazil.

That was Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti’s explanation for an uneven first-half performance by the five-time World Cup champions, who nonetheless rode Vinicius Junior’s 32nd-minute leveler to a 1-1 draw against Morocco in both teams’ Group C opener on Saturday evening.

Read more Hilo Harbor project hits snag

“I think the team was a bit anxious in the beginning,” said Ancelotti, who himself was managing his first match at a World Cup despite a career that includes a record five UEFA Champions League titles as a manager. “Nerves were all over the place. (We) didn’t keep a lot of ball possession. In the second half, it was a lot better, but it was still tough, and I’m sure the team will do better in the next match.”

Indeed, Vinicius’ equalizer came decisively against the run of play for the Selecao, despite enjoying a majority of the support in the first match of the tournament played at the 80,663-capacity MetLife Stadium.

The Selecao’s performance improved after halftime, during which Ancelotti pulled off Casemiro and Roger Ibanez in favor of Fabinho and Danilo.

But there remained a sense of unease at the final whistle even from Vinicius, who was undoubtedly his nation’s best player.

“We’ve got to hold on to the ball,” said the 25-year-old Real Madrid star. “We’ve got to move better. … But I don’t think there’s a lot to say now. I think we really have to improve.”

Even the usually easy-mannered Ancelotti sounded on edge at a couple lines of questioning, including whether he opted for changes quickly enough.

“There were two substitutions in the 45th minute and another in the (61st) minute,” he said. “Do you hear what I’m saying? Two substitutions at 45th minute and another substitution at the (61st) minute. I don’t think we lost any time when it comes to substitutions.”

Ancelotti refused to criticize Casemiro or Ibanez directly, or express regret for fielding them in his starting XI. At age 34, Casemiro is out of contract at Manchester United and rumored to be leaving Europe. Ibanez plays in the Saudi Pro League.

“Those were good players,” Ancelotti said. “I think I made the right choices, and I will not take any criticism about the individual players that started the match. I think there’s criticism to the entire team that didn’t play well during the first half.”

A potential saving grace, at least for the rest of group play, is that Saturday’s match was easily Brazil’s toughest Group C test on paper. Morocco is seventh in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings, only a single spot behind No. 6 Brazil.

Scotland is 37th and Haiti is 84th. Scotland edged Haiti 1-0 on Saturday night in the first World Cup match for either team since 1998 for Scotland and 1974 for Haiti.

Qatar’s miracle late goal delivers draw vs. Switzerland

Boualem Khoukhi scored on a sensational header in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time as underdog Qatar stunned Switzerland in a 1-1 draw in their opening match in Group B play Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif.

Breel Embolo scored on a controversial penalty kick in the 17th minute for favored Switzerland, who entered the tournament ranked No. 19 in the world, according to FIFA, while Qatar holds the No. 56 slot.

Mahmoud Abunada had five saves as Qatar also gained their first-ever World Cup point. As the host country in their lone appearance in the tournament in 2022, they went 0-3-0 in group play.

Gregor Kobel had three saves for Switzerland, who have made it to the round of 16 in the last three World Cups.

Khoukhi’s last-chance goal came on a cross from the deep left side of the field by Homam Ahmed. Near the far post, Khoukhi rose over Swiss defender Miro Muheim and smacked his shot inside the top right corner.

Khoukhi’s heroics allowed Qatar to gain a point on a day when the Swiss dominated the action. Switzerland had possession for 68% of the match, had 526 accurate passes to 200 for Qatar and held a 10-3 edge in corners and an 8-1 advantage on through balls.

Switzerland pressured Qatar from the start, forcing Abunada to make two saves in the first 12 minutes, including a diving stop of an attempt by Dan Ndoye.

Read more 2026 KTA Roy Fujimoto Scholarship awarded to 4 Big Island high school seniors

Abunada wasn’t as fortunate as he was called for a penalty when he lunged at Remo Freuler, his head crashing into the thigh of the Swiss midfielder.

Freuler had broken free in the goal mouth, poised to score on a headed feed from Embolo, but on the play the Swiss midfielder appeared to break offside.

After the call survived a video review and in the 17th minute, Embolo delivered the penalty kick, scoring easily into the bottom left corner after faking Abunada, who was headed in the opposite direction.

The 1-0 lead did little to relieve the pressure applied by the Swiss. Qatar remained on the defense for the rest of the half and after intermission.

In the 49th minute, Granit Xhaka fired a left-footed rocket from outside the box which Abunada tipped over the crossbar.

Switzerland continued to dominate the action until Qatar emerged in stoppage time.

The Swiss will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina Thursday afternoon in Inglewood, Calif. Later that day, Qatar takes on Canada in Vancouver.

John McGinn lifts Scotland past Haiti in World Cup opener

John McGinn scored a goal just past the midway point of the first half and Scotland moved to the top of the Group C standings with a 1-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday in the opening match of the World Cup for both teams at Foxborough, Mass.

Angus Gunn made two saves to record the clean sheet as Scotland came away with three points to sit ahead of group favorites Brazil and Morocco, who played to a 1-1 tie earlier Saturday.

The victory came in Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years.

Johny Placide made one save for Haiti, who were making their second World Cup appearance and first since 1974.

Haiti held their own in the first half with eight shots to seven for Scotland. Each team had two shots on goal. But Scotland still managed to be most dangerous in the opening 45 minutes.

Scotland’s first quality chance came in the 17th minute, when Scott McTominay fired a shot from the edge of the box that drilled the right post and came back into play.

Scotland managed to break through in the 28th minute. Che Adams took a shot that was saved by Placide before McGinn gathered the deflection. McGinn’s left-footed shot found the back of the net after a pair of deflections off the Haiti defense.

Both teams had shots just wide of goal in a short span when McGinn was off target for Scotland in the 73rd minute and Ruben Providence was unable to convert for Haiti just one minute later.

Haiti’s Frantzdy Pierrot put a header just wide of the goal that would have tied the match in the 85th minute. Pierrot again took a shot while falling to the ground in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time that was saved by Gunn.

Haiti finished the match with 15 shots (two on target), while Scotland had nine shots (two on target).

The challenge only increases for each team in their second matches of group play on Friday, with Scotland set to face Morocco at Foxborough, while Haiti is matched up against Brazil at Philadelphia.

Read more Revamping Hawaii Volcanoes National Park