(foto: Getty Images)
Vinicius Junior and Achraf Hakimi found themselves in unusual situations before Brazil's clash with Morocco after organizers insisted that questions and answers be conducted in English.
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The build-up to the World Cup clash between Brazil and Morocco produced an unexpected controversy off the pitch.
Both Vinicius Junior and Achraf Hakimi found themselves involved in awkward exchanges during pre-match media conferences after organizers reportedly insisted on the use of English.
The incidents occurred ahead of one of the most anticipated matches of the opening round, with the five-time world champions facing the reigning African champions in Group C.
Hakimi's situation came first.
The Morocco captain was asked a question by a Spanish-speaking journalist. Given that Hakimi was born and raised in Madrid, understanding the question was never going to be a problem.
However, organizers intervened and reportedly informed the journalist that the question had to be asked in English.
Hakimi attempted to resolve the situation by explaining that he speaks Spanish fluently and was perfectly comfortable answering in that language.
The request was still rejected.
A compromise was eventually reached. The journalist was allowed to ask the question in Spanish, while Hakimi responded in English.
The unusual exchange left many observers puzzled.
A similar situation later unfolded at Brazil's press conference.
Vinicius Junior, who spent years playing in Spain with Real Madrid, began communicating with a Spanish journalist in Spanish. The conversation did not last long before organizers again intervened and reportedly requested the use of English.
The situation was particularly awkward because Vinicius is not fully comfortable speaking English and has often preferred Portuguese or Spanish during interviews.
Rather than continue in Spanish, the Brazilian star switched to Portuguese and focused on football matters.
Vinicius made it clear that his only concern at the moment is helping Brazil win the World Cup.
The incidents sparked discussion among supporters on social media, especially given the linguistic diversity of the host nations.
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in North America, with tens of millions of speakers across the United States alone.
Despite the unusual off-field distraction, both players now turn their attention to the main event.
When Brazil and Morocco meet on the pitch, the language spoken will matter far less than the football produced.