The easiest thing to do with Group C is to look at the teams and assume Brazil will finish on top.

The hardest part is figuring out everything that comes after.

Because when the five-time world champions arrive in North America carrying the familiar burden of expectation, the three teams with them have stories that make this group even more interesting than it first appears.

Morocco is no longer football’s favorite underdog after becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. After 28 years of waiting and desperate to make up for lost time, Scotland is finally back. Haiti returned to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1974, with one of the tournament’s most remarkable qualification stories.

And floating above it all is a name that has been following the World Cup for more than a decade.

Neymar.

For an entire generation, Brazil at the World Cup meant Neymar dancing behind a goal, Neymar carrying expectations on his shoulders and Neymar trying to pull football’s most decorated nation closer to another star above the badge.

There were moments when it really felt like Qatar might be their last World Cup. After fighting off serious injury threats at the end of the season, which also derailed his Saudi Pro League stint, without playing any meaningful minutes. Even after rejoining his boyhood club Santos in Brazil, his prospects looked bleak. As the World Cup approached, Neymar’s eagerness to battle injuries and regain his form grew rapidly.

Just when hope was looking bleak for the Brazilian superstar, When it comes to representing his country, he has done it many times before.

At the age of 34, with Carlo Ancelotti now in charge and Brazil chasing a first world title since 2002, Neymar has got another chance at the trophy that always seemed destined for him but somehow never came. Although He is likely to miss Brazil’s first match against MoroccoAncelotti has insisted that Neymar will play a key role in Brazil’s World Cup campaign.

Whether this turns out to be his farewell tour, Morocco’s next statement to the football world, Scotland’s breakthrough moment or Haiti’s dream summer remains to be seen.

Group C fixtures

• June 14 (3:30 AM IST) – Brazil vs Morocco, East Rutherford
• June 14 (6:30 am IST) – Scotland v Haiti, Foxborough
• June 20 (3:30 am IST) – Morocco vs Scotland, Foxborough
• June 20 (6:00 am IST) – Brazil vs Haiti, Philadelphia
• June 25 (3:30 am IST) – Brazil vs Scotland, Miami
• June 25 (3:30 am IST) – Morocco vs Haiti, Atlanta

FIFA World Cup 2026, Group C: Meet the teams

brazil

Brazil is the only nation to have participated in every FIFA World Cup and remains the competition’s most successful team, with five titles. Yet for all their history and reputation, they arrive in North America with more questions than a typical Brazilian team.

Their last World Cup win was in 2002. Since then, many talented generations have fallen short. Quarter-final exits in both 2018 and 2022 extended the wait for a sixth crown, while a turbulent qualification campaign left many wondering if Brazil had lost some of its old aura.

Concerns reached a peak in 2025 after a crushing 4–1 defeat to Argentina, which ultimately resulted in Dorival Júnior losing his job.

This paved the way for Carlo Ancelotti.

Some managers understand tournament football better than the Italians. With five Champions League titles and decades of experience managing superstar dressing rooms, Ancelotti has been tasked with restoring calm to a team that was beginning to look surprisingly weak.

what to expect?

Despite all the tactical changes and new faces, Brazil’s greatest asset remains unchanged: offensive attacking talent.

Raphinha arrived in North America playing the best football of his career and looking every bit the player capable of keeping up with Brazil’s attack. Vinicius Junior still has the ability to turn defenders inside out on any given night, while Andrić is waiting for the chance to introduce himself to the wider world in true Brazilian fashion.

And yet, whenever Brazil is discussed, the conversation revolves around the same name.

Neymar.

Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s curiosity. Or maybe it’s because football fans can’t resist a comeback story.

But Neymar has somehow made a comeback in the story.

Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include him in the squad immediately added a different energy to Brazil’s campaign. No one is asking him to be the one-man show of 2014 or 2018. This burden now lies with the younger generation. Still, Neymar is such a player who forces the entire stadium to lean forward as soon as he catches the ball.

This can no longer be Neymar’s Brazil. The spotlight is now shared, perhaps even extended. But if the Seleção eventually lift the trophy, don’t be surprised if some of the tournament’s defining images feature the number 10 smiling, dancing and reminding the world why he’s impossible to ignore.

Key players to keep an eye on

Rafinha

Neymar may dominate the headlines, but Raphinha could become Brazil’s most decisive player.

The Barcelona winger’s combination of creativity, goalscoring and a tireless work-rate has made him one of the most complete attackers in world football. With opponents likely to focus more on Vinicius and Neymar, Raphinha’s ability to find space and create chances could prove vital.

Andrik

Every World Cup produces a breakout star. Brazil will hope Andrique is next.

The teenager enjoyed an excellent second half of the season on loan at Lyon, registering 16 goal contributions in 21 matches. Fearless and explosive, he has qualities that can change a game in an instant.

morocco

Morocco’s visit to Qatar four years ago was impossible to ignore.

After defeating Spain and Portugal, they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final and changed the perception of what teams from the continent could achieve on football’s biggest stage.

Now the challenge is different.

Morocco is no longer surprising anyone.

The Atlas Lions are the reigning African champions and eighth in the FIFA rankings in North America. They have evolved from underdogs to genuine contenders and that brings a very different kind of pressure.

A managerial change has added another layer of intrigue. Mohamed Ouahabi replaced Walid Regragui earlier this year after leading the Morocco Under-20 team to world glory and now inherits arguably the most talented squad in the country’s history.

what to expect?

The foundations that made Morocco so difficult to beat in 2022 remain intact.

Yassin Bounou is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Achraf Hakimi remains the heartbeat of the team. Nousair Mazraoui continues to deliver quality and experience.

The difference now is what Morocco can offer going forward.

This is a much more courageous team than the one that reached the semi-finals in Qatar. During their AFCON-winning campaign, he led the tournament in terms of touches inside the opposition box and consistently pressed opponents high up the pitch.

Players such as Brahim Diaz, Abed Ezalzouli and Neel El Aynaoui have added creativity and offensive variety to a team that was once defined almost entirely by its defensive organization.

Key players need to be kept an eye on

Achraf Hakimi

Coming off the heels of another Champions League triumph with PSG, Hakimi enters the tournament in arguably the best form of his career.

Whether Morocco is defending deep or attacking aggressively, everything runs through him.

brahim diaz

The Real Madrid attacker was one of the standout performers of AFCON and continues to develop as Morocco’s creative leader.

Direct, fearless and able to unlock compact defenses, Diaz could be the player who elevates Morocco from dangerous outsiders to genuine contenders.

scotland

Twenty eight years.

Scotland waited so long to return to the World Cup.

His last appearance was in France in 1998. Since then, generations of Scottish fans have watched the World Cup and wondered what it would be like to be a part of it again.

Now at last he has got his chance.

Steve Clarke deserves immense credit for the transformation. Since taking charge in 2019, he has restored confidence in a national team that had spent decades wandering between disappointment and frustration.

No one expects Scotland to perform well in the tournament. They have organization, physicality and a clear identity. Scotland are difficult to break down, dangerous from set-pieces and full of players who thrive in chaotic matches.

The objective is simple. Beat Haiti, compete against Morocco and Brazil and give yourself a chance to become one of the best third-place teams.

Key players need to be kept an eye on

Scott McTominay

There are few players more important to his national team than McTominay.

The Napoli midfielder has developed into Scotland’s leader, goalscorer and emotional heartthrob. Whether arriving late into the box or dragging his team through difficult moments, he remains the kind of player Scotland turn to when they need inspiration.

ben doak

Still only 20 years of age, Doak is considered one of Scotland’s brightest prospects.

His pace and direct running provide something different to a side that has often relied on structure and discipline.

haiti

The Caribbean nation returned to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1974 after overcoming huge challenges throughout qualification, including playing several matches away from home due to security concerns.

Qualification alone felt like a victory.

Now comes the hard part. Haiti knows they enter the tournament as outsiders.

Head coach Sébastien Migne has created a disciplined team that remains compact even without the ball and looks to attack quickly during transitions.

They may not be able to dominate possession against any team in the group, but they are organized enough to make life uncomfortable.

Key players need to be kept an eye on

wilson isidore

The Sunderland forward is arguably Haiti’s most recognizable attacking threat.

His pace, movement and finishing ability give Haiti hope of springing a surprise or two.

ruben providence

The winger has the kind of directness that can unsettle defenders in one-on-one situations.

If Haiti suffers a shock, Providence will likely be at the epicenter.

group c prediction

1. Brazil

2. Morocco

3. Scotland

4. Haiti

Brazil remain favourites, but it does not seem to be the straightforward group that many were expecting.

Morocco have the quality and confidence to push them forward, Scotland believe qualification is within reach and Haiti are determined to enjoy every minute of their long-awaited return.

And somewhere in the middle of all this stands Neymar.

Maybe for one last World Cup.

– ends