FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil vs Japan — Second Showdown of the Last 32

Play was brought to a temporary halt after Brazil's Casemiro went down with an injury.

The fourth official has held up the board indicating six additional minutes will be played at the end of the ninety.

Japan's Ao Tanaka is penalised for a foul.

Vinícius Júnior of Brazil is brought down on the left wing, earning his side a free kick in a promising area.

Gabriel Magalhães of Brazil gets on the end of a cross from Rayan and directs a header from the centre of the box, but the attempt is charged down before it can threaten goal.

Vinícius Júnior of Brazil unleashes a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, but the shot is blocked. Gabriel Martinelli was the provider on the play.

Brazil are awarded a corner kick after Kaishu Sano turns the ball behind his own byline.

Rayan of Brazil is fouled on the right wing, winning a free kick for his side.

Junnosuke Suzuki of Japan is penalised for a foul.

Brazil earn another corner kick after Junnosuke Suzuki sends the ball over his own goal line.

Junnosuke Suzuki of Japan receives a yellow card after a reckless challenge earns him a booking.

Danilo of Brazil is fouled on the right wing, handing his side a free kick in the attacking third.

Junnosuke Suzuki of Japan is called up for yet another foul, adding to his disciplinary woes.

Japan made a tactical change just after the 77-minute mark, with Ao Tanaka coming on to replace Daichi Kamada.

Japan made a further change, sending Shuto Machino onto the pitch as a replacement for Junya Ito.

Gabriel Martinelli of Brazil fired a right-footed effort from outside the penalty area, but the ball drifted wide to the right of the target.

Brazil earned a corner kick after Junnosuke Suzuki was penalised for conceding it.

Rayan of Brazil attempted a header from the right side of the six-yard box, but Japan's defence managed to block the effort. The chance had been created by a cross from Gabriel Magalhães.

Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli was penalised for a foul, handing Japan a free kick opportunity.

Japan's Junya Ito won a free kick for his side in their own defensive half of the pitch.

The drinks break concluded and play resumed, with both sets of players ready to continue the contest.

The match was briefly interrupted to give players a scheduled drinks break.

Both sides have been throwing everything into this gripping contest, with the intensity reaching new heights after the interval. Vinícius Júnior made a blistering burst forward and cannoned a shot off the crossbar just moments after Brazil drew level, while Japan have remained desperate to catch the Seleção on the counter. The Samurai Blues' forwards are swift to surge upfield the instant their backline repels pressure from Brazil's attacking stars. A victory for Japan here would mark the first time the nation has ever come through a knockout-stage tie — made all the more remarkable given that Brazil are not considered the outright strongest side in this tournament.

Japan ring the changes just past the hour mark as Yukinari Sugawara steps onto the pitch in place of Ritsu Doan.

Japan make a second change around the same moment, bringing Junnosuke Suzuki into the action as Keito Nakamura is withdrawn from the match.

Brazil also make a change at the 65-minute mark, as Gabriel Martinelli is sent on to replace Matheus Cunha in the Seleção's attacking line.

Japan came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 63rd minute when Ayase Ueda fired a right-footed drive from the left channel of the penalty area, but Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson Becker flung himself to the bottom left corner to keep it out. The chance was crafted by Daizen Maeda.

Referee penalises Japan's Ayase Ueda for handball, awarding a free kick to Brazil in a promising position.

Vinícius Júnior had a golden opportunity to put Brazil ahead in the 58th minute, unleashing a right-footed strike from the left side of the box, but Japan's goalkeeper Zion Suzuki produced a sharp diving save to his bottom right corner to keep it out. The move was set up by Rayan.

Matheus Cunha tested his luck from outside the penalty area, unleashing a right-footed drive, but the attempt drifted away from goal without troubling the keeper.

Brazil are level! Gabriel Magalhães delivered a cross into the box and Casemiro met it with authority, directing a powerful header from the right side of the six-yard box into the top-centre of the net to make it Brazil 1, Japan 1.

Breathless stuff at the stadium! Casemiro connected from barely a few yards out but Japanese defenders scrambled frantically on the goal line, fumbling with the ball before eventually clearing their lines. Japan then burst forward on the counter-attack but were unable to make anything of it.

Vinícius Júnior sent in a cross and Endrick latched onto it from the centre of the box, striking with his left foot, but the shot curved away to the right of Japan's goal and went wide of the target.

Bruno Guimarães met a cross from Danilo with a firm header from the middle of the penalty area, directing it towards the top of the net, but Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was equal to the task, producing an excellent stop at the top-centre to keep his side's lead intact at that point.

Matheus Cunha was penalised for a foul, surrendering possession and giving Japan a set-piece opportunity.

Takehiro Tomiyasu drew a foul in the defensive half of the pitch, winning Japan a free kick.

Danilo was booked after the referee deemed his challenge to be reckless, flashing the yellow card at the Brazilian defender.

Daizen Maeda was brought down in the defensive half, and Japan were awarded a free kick as a result of the challenge on him.

Danilo committed a foul in the defensive half, handing Japan a free-kick chance.

Ritsu Doan was penalised for handball, handing Brazil a free-kick opportunity to threaten Japan's goal.

Play has resumed for the second half of this FIFA World Cup contest. Brazil go into the final 45 minutes a goal down, trailing Japan 0-1 and in need of a comeback.

Japan's well-drilled and compact defensive unit has made it impossible for Brazil to threaten their goal, something that was widely anticipated before kick-off given the form Japan brought into this match. The Asian side have strung together 10 straight victories heading into this contest. After getting their noses in front through Sano, Japan stood firm with tremendous collective resolve to ensure their lead remained intact at the break.

Brazil suffered an unwanted blow in the closing stages of the first half as Lucas Paquetá was forced to leave the field due to an injury. Endrick has been brought on as his replacement.

The first half is over. Brazil 0, Japan 1. The half-time statistics for both teams are displayed above.

Marquinhos found Lucas Paquetá with a delivery and the Brazilian met it with a header from the heart of the penalty area, but the attempt was blocked and Brazil were denied.

The fourth official has indicated that four additional minutes will be played at the end of the first half.

Japan's Daichi Kamada was shown a yellow card by the referee after committing a bad foul.

Bruno Guimarães was brought down in the defensive half of the field, winning Brazil a free kick.

Daichi Kamada of Japan gave away a foul.

Assisted by Daichi Kamada, Junya Ito unleashed a left-footed drive from outside the box, but the shot was blocked before it could find its way to goal.

With Lucas Paquetá providing the assist, Matheus Cunha struck a right-footed shot from beyond the penalty area, but Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a comfortable save in the middle of his goal.

Lucas Paquetá of Brazil unleashed a left-footed strike from beyond the penalty area, but the effort was blocked before it could reach the goal. The move had been set in motion by Vinícius Júnior.

Brazil's latest attacking move is cut short as Marquinhos is caught in an offside position, with the assistant referee's flag bringing proceedings to a halt.

Vinícius Júnior of Brazil tested Japan's shot-stopper Zion Suzuki with a right-footed hit from outside the penalty area, but Suzuki stood firm to smother the ball at the centre of his goal. Bruno Guimarães had provided the assist that led to the chance.

Japan's Ritsu Doan is penalised by the referee for a foul, handing Brazil a free-kick opportunity.

Brazil's Douglas Santos draws a foul out on the left flank, winning his side a free kick from a promising wide position.

Japan take the lead! Kaishu Sano caps a lightning-quick counter-attack by dispatching a right-footed strike from outside the box into the bottom-left corner. The scoreline now reads Brazil 0, Japan 1.

Ayase Ueda (Japan) went for a header from the centre of the penalty area, but the ball sailed high and wide to the left, going well off target. The opportunity stemmed from a cross delivered by Junya Ito in the aftermath of a corner kick.

Japan were awarded a corner kick, with Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhães penalised for giving it away.

The pause in proceedings has come to an end. Both teams are back on the pitch and ready to get the game going again.

The match was brought to a brief standstill as the players took a scheduled drinks break out on the field.

Japan's Ayase Ueda was penalised for a handball offence, handing the opposing side a free kick.

Japan are awarded a corner kick, with Casemiro the player responsible for conceding it.

A right-footed strike from Daichi Kamada (Japan) launched from outside the box is blocked and comes to nothing.

Casemiro of Brazil is shown a yellow card after the referee penalises him for a dangerous and reckless challenge.

Casemiro (Brazil) concedes a free kick after committing a foul.

Junya Ito wins a free kick for Japan in the opposition's half of the field.

Bruno Guimarães (Brazil) fires wide to the right with his right foot from the left side of the penalty area. Lucas Paquetá had set up the opportunity from a corner.

Brazil earn a corner kick after Zion Suzuki concedes it.

Matheus Cunha (Brazil) tries his luck with a left-footed effort from range that drifts just past the left post. Bruno Guimarães was the creator of this chance.

Kaishu Sano of Japan receives a yellow card after being penalised for a reckless and dangerous foul.

Vinícius Júnior wins a free kick for Brazil, awarded in their own defensive half.

Kaishu Sano (Japan) is penalised for the foul that led to the free kick.

Bruno Guimarães (Brazil) gets a left-footed attempt off from the heart of the box, but it is blocked. Douglas Santos had provided the assist to set up the chance.

Japan has spent years building its reputation as a team that truly belongs among the elite of world football. But today presents a challenge of an altogether different magnitude — defeating one of the sport's most celebrated nations at the most decisive moment. In the FIFA World Cup 2026 last-32 stage, Japan goes up against a powerful Brazil outfit, with the Samurai Blue desperate to etch their name into the history books of the game's greatest tournament.

Kaishu Sano of Japan is penalised for a foul, handing Brazil the set piece.

Brazil's Vinícius Júnior wins a free kick in the attacking half, keeping the pressure firmly on Japan's defence.

Brazil are awarded a corner after Japan's Shogo Taniguchi concedes it.

Bruno Guimarães unleashes a left-footed strike from the right side of the penalty area, but the effort is blocked. Rayan had played the ball through to create the opportunity.

Lucas Paquetá earns a free kick for Brazil in their own defensive half.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is penalised for a foul, gifting Brazil a free kick.

The referee blows the whistle and the first half is now in motion.

Japan secured their berth in the knockout round on the back of a mixed but effective group campaign. The Samurai Blue kicked off their World Cup journey with a 2-2 stalemate against the Netherlands, before delivering a dominant 4-0 rout of Tunisia. They rounded off the group stage by sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Sweden — three results that were enough to carry them into the last 32.

Win against SCO — 3-0 Another victory, this time over HAI — 3-0 Stalemate against MAR — 1-1

Both sides have confirmed their starting elevens and the players are currently going through their pre-match warm-up routines out on the pitch.