FIFA World Cup

Round of 32

BRA Brazil Brazil - JPN Japan Japan

Brazil Brazil

Japan Japan

G. Martinelli
90' +6'
Casemiro
56'

29'
K. Sano

Houston Stadium(Sold out)

Maurizio Mariani

Brazil advance!

The five-time winners come from behind to reach the Round of 16 with late, late goal! Heartbreak for Japan, who had taken the lead through Mainz's Kaishu Sano. It ends 2-1 in Houston.

End of second half

Full-time

90'

+ 8

Substitution

Danilo

Bruno Guimarães

90'

+ 7

Substitution

Kōki Ogawa

Daizen Maeda

90'

+ 6

Knockout blow?!

Martinelli finds himself between two defenders as a ball is sent into the penalty area, and the finish is as good as they get - right into the corner. Brazil are moments from a place in the Round of 32!

90'

+ 6

Gabriel Martinelli

GOAL!

2:1

Assist:B. Guimarães

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

25 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

10.71 m

90'

+ 3

Substitution

Fabinho

Casemiro

89'

Six added minutes

A lot can happen in that time...

84'

Yellow card

Junnosuke Suzuki

Hearts in mouths

Will Brazil get another chance like this?

82'

Sugawara does his job

Excellent defending by the substitute. The Bremen man gets the better of Vini Junior, winning the foot race along the left byline and clearing the danger.

78'

Substitution

Ao Tanaka

Daichi Kamada

78'

Substitution

Shuto Machino

Junya Ito

Celebrations

But will the five-time winners still be smiling when the game ends? As things stand, this one is going to extra time...

73'

Vin-decision

Another solo run from the increasingly influential Vinicius, who can't quite make up his mind inside the penalty area. In the end, he opts for the square pass, which fails to find a teammate.

68'

Drinks break

The players have a chance to hydrate after a manic start to the half.

66'

Both sides make changes

Martinelli comes on for the ineffective Cunha. Japan shift to a slightly more defensive set-up as Sugawara replaces Dōan. It's one Bundesliga player for another.

66'

Substitution

Junnosuke Suzuki

Keito Nakamura

66'

Substitution

Yukinari Sugawara

Ritsu Dōan

66'

Substitution

Gabriel Martinelli

Matheus Cunha

Pressure pays off

You have to say, Casemiro's equaliser was richly deserved after their waves of sustained pressure.

64'

Ueda tests Alisson

After a slightly deflected shot from the left corner of the penalty area, the Brazilian keeper has to make a second save. He can't quite keep hold of the ball, however.

62'

Japan remain dangerous on the counter

Brazil are clearly more dominant, but the underdogs still have something to offer. Maeda gets past Danilo but plays the ball too far ahead of himself.

62'

Chances pile up for Brazil

Meanwhile, Japan's only shot on target was their opening goal.

Goal attempts

8off target

7on target

3off target

1on target

60'

Fast-paced and all to play for

The second half makes up a little for the rather monotonous first period. It's end-to-end...the match seems completely open.

58'

Vinicius denied!

What a moment from the dribbling maestro. Tomiyasu is left for dead with an ankle-breaker, and the chipped shot from a few yards out, coming from the half-left channel, is tipped onto the post by Suzuki. What a save that was!

56'

Casemiro doesn't miss this time!

The next cross, this time from Gabriel, flies through the penalty area towards the back post. Casemiro aims better this time and gives Suzuki no chance with a powerful header. That's the equaliser!

56'

Casemiro

GOAL!

1:1

Assist:Gabriel

Goal probability

26 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

5.94 m

54'

Casemiro denied!

Brazil are growing stronger and really should really have equalised. After another cross goes into a dangerous area, this time Casemiro only needs to head it in from close range, but somehow three Japanese players, including the goalkeeper, clear it off the line.

52'

Guimarães!

Brazil's best player has their best chance of the game so far. Danilo delivers a silky cross into the crowded penalty area and the midfielder heads powerfully towards the right corner. Suzuki then makes a strong save to keep it at 1-0.

50'

Lively start

Endrick breaks free down the right and drives towards the box, but his through ball to Vinicius is overhit. Suzuki is there to collect.

48'

Danilo booked

The right back stops a Japanese counter-attack after shoving Maeda to the ground.

48'

Yellow card

Danilo

47'

Tenacious play

Even at the start of the second half, the Japanese aren't giving their counterparts any time to breathe.

46'

The second half begins with a sub

The injured Paqueta is replaced by top talent Endrick for Brazil.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Brazil 0-1 Japan

Japan lead at the break after a terrific strike from Mainz midfielder Sano. Brazil have dominated the ball but have laregely been reduced to long-range shots that haven't really troubled Suzuki. The five-time world champions have 45 minutes to try and turn the tide - and to deprive Japan of their first-ever World Cup knockout stage win.

45'

+ 4

Substitution

Endrick

Lucas Paquetá

Half-time

45'

+ 3

Strong positioning

The pace is lacking from Brazil. Cunha receives the ball in the centre of the pitch, but is immediately surrounded by three Japanese players and is dispossessed.

45'

+ 2

Brazil can't make their possession count

Japan's low block has been effective so far in neutralising the South Americans.

Passes

329

148

45'

+ 1

Injury Time

There will be four minutes added on.

45'

Tactical foul

Former Frankfurt midfielder Kamada stops a counter-attack and is consequently shown a yellow card.

45'

Yellow card

Daichi Kamada

43'

Brazil frustrated

The favourites look tense. Japan are now pushing out well from the back and keeping Brazil away from their own goal. However, the Selecao still have plenty of time to get back on level terms.

39'

Japan's tactical plan pays off

Defensively, Japan head coach Moriyasu has come up with something pretty effective so far. Vinicius's side of the pitch is crowded, but the right side with Rayan has barely been exploited by Brazil. What remains are long-range, speculative shots.

Sano's stunner sends Japan into raptures

36'

No xG, no problem

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Japan have scored with their only shot on target so far.

xGoals

0.23

0.18

Goals

33'

Vini on the charge

Vinicius tries his luck from distance, but this shot is too central. The reliable Suzuki holds on to the bouncing ball.

31'

How will the Selecao respond?

The favourites now really need to raise their game. The first response: an attack down the left flank, which ends in another free kick.

30'

Debut goal

It's Sano's first goal for his nation – and on this stage of all places. Not a bad way to do it...

Sano!!! What a goal!

The man who has been at the centre of everything so far has stunned Brazil. He wins the ball back himself in midfield and then marches towards the opposition goal. The Mainz man put everything into this move, eventually finishing perfectly from 25 yards. The ball arrows low into the bottom left corner and Alisson is left with no chance.

29'

Kaishu Sano

GOAL!

0:1

Goal probability

5 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

21.76 m

28'

Shot for Japan

Ueda rises high, but doesn't get enough control on the header and it goes well over.

28'

Drinks break over

The match is back underway. Japan win a corner straight away.

24'

Sano in focus

The Mainz player is once again at the centre of attention. Following his early booking, he has frequently been called upon and has been involved in many duels. In midfield, he had made a strong clearance in a follow-up challenge just a few minutes ago, but now near his own goal line he is somewhat fortunate that a tackle against Cunha goes unpunished once again.

22'

Tactical phase

Japan are sitting deep, lying in wait for counter-attacks. Brazil are trying to break them down through their play, but the underdogs are looking more composed as the match progresses.

An asset for the Brazilians

The Newcastle United midfielder has already had three attempts on goal, driving both fans and teammates forward in equal measure.

16'

Deflected

Kamada wants to sneak the free kick under the wall, but the attempt is blocked and turned away for a corner.

14'

Risky challenge

Casemiro receives a card for a foul just inches outside his own penalty area.

14'

Yellow card

Casemiro

13'

Double chance!

Brazil are growing stronger. Cunha's long-range shot is deflected by Suzuki around the left post, and from the resulting corner Guimarães heads just wide.

12'

Sano picks up an early yellow card

Not intentional, but clearly late. Sano stepped on Vinicius's foot and duly recieves the first booking of the match.

12'

Yellow card

Kaishu Sano

10'

Dominant start

Brazil have been much the better side so far. Guimarães has a go at goal again, but his long-range effort only finds the head of teammate Paquetá.

Alert

The only offensive action from the Japanese side so far ends with Marquinhos winning a duel against Maeda.

Dangerous free kick

A Brazilian free kick from the left half-space floats into the penalty area. Suzuki is back in position but has to gather the ball at the second time of asking after trying to pluck it out of the air.

Suzuki to the rescue

This time the attack comes down the left flank. Vinicius is played in behind the defence, but Suzuki rushes off his line and gets to the ball one step ahead of the Real Madrid superstar goalscorer. That was an important intervention from the Japanese keeper.

Guimarães opens up

Brazil combine down the right flank. The deflected shot from the midfielder goes wide of the right post. Corner for the Selecao...

Kick-off

The Round of 32 tie, the first real top-tier match of the knockouts, is underway!

Kick-off!

Goals galore

In the previous five games in Houston Stadium, 21 goals were scored - no venue has seen more. Among others, Germany won 7-1 against Curacao, the Netherlands 5-1 against Sweden and Portugal 5-0 against Uzbekistan.

Bundesliga watch

While Brazil have travelled to the World Cup without any players active in Germany, Japan feature no fewer than three Bundesliga players in their starting eleven alone, with Sano, Ito and captain Dōan. Machino, Sugawara and Suzuki also provide additional Bundesliga quality from the bench.

Neymar on the bench again

In the squad once more, but starting on from the bench. Neymar will be hoping he can come on again today, just as he did against Scotland last time out.

Japan team news

Sano, Ito, and Tomiyasu return to the Japanese starting XI after being rested for the Sweden clash last time out. Taniguchi also replaces Itakura in the backline, where he will partner Bayern Munich's Ito.

Brazil team news

Head coach Ancelotti has selected the same starting XI that dismantled Scotland in Miami last time out. Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha, the two goalscorers from that game, spearhead the Brazilian attack alongside youngster Rayan.

Starting line-up: Brazil

Formation:4-3-3

Brazil subs

Weverton, Ederson, Sandro, Bremer, Pereira, Ibañez, Éderson Silva, Fabinho, Danilo, Neymar, Endrick, Henrique, Martinelli, Thiago.

Starting line-up: Japan

Japan subs

Ōsako, Hayakawa, Sugawara, Itakura, Nagatomo, Watanabe, Seko, J. Suzuki, Tanaka, Kubo, Y. Suzuki, Machino, Gotō, Ogawa, Shiogai.

Head-to-head record

Brazil and Japan have faced each other 14 times in history. The five-time World Cup winners dominate the fixture with 11 victories, while Japan have just one win - which happened in the most recent meeting between the two sides back in October 2025.

How they got here: Japan

Japan finished second in Group F after going unbeaten in their three matches. A superb 4-0 win over Tunisia was sandwiched between draws against the Netherlands and Sweden, which secured their place in the last 32.

How they got here: Brazil

The Seleção qualified top of Group C after beating Haiti and Scotland 3-0. They only dropped points in their opening World Cup game against Morocco, where a Vinicius Jr helped them earn a 1-1 draw in New Jersey.

Welcome!

Follow all of the action as Brazil take on Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32, kicking off at 7pm CEST in Houston.