Sports

Brazil vs Japan – Match preview and team news

Nairavoice · Jun 29, 2026 · 3 min read

The World Cup last 32 produces one of its most compelling fixtures on Monday evening as Brazil face Japan at Houston Stadium, with a place in the round of 16 and a likely meeting with either the Netherlands or Morocco at stake.

Brazil arrive as Group C winners, their momentum building through back-to-back 3–0 victories after an opening draw. Japan come in as Group F runners-up, unbeaten across three matches and arriving as the only team to have beaten Brazil in their most recent encounter — a 3–2 friendly win in Tokyo last October. Japan have never won a knockout match at the men’s World Cup. For Hajime Moriyasu’s side, this is their greatest opportunity yet to change that.

Brazil vs Japan – Match preview and team news

Date: Monday, 29 June 2026
Kick-off: 18:00 BST
Venue: Houston Stadium
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Last meeting: Japan 3–2 Brazil, 14 October 2025, friendly

Team news

Brazil

Raphinha remains absent with the hamstring injury sustained against Haiti, which also ruled him out of the Scotland victory. The Barcelona winger has not returned to full training and will not be considered here. Ancelotti is expected to name an unchanged XI from the Scotland match, with Bournemouth teenager Rayan keeping his place on the right flank.

Vinicius Junior, who scored in all three group games, leads the attack alongside Lucas Paquetá and Matheus Cunha.

Neymar is fit and available after returning from a calf injury as a substitute against Scotland — his first Brazil appearance in almost 1,000 days — and is expected to repeat that role from the bench.

Casemiro and Danilo both carry yellow cards into the fixture and must exercise caution to protect their round of 16 availability.

Japan

Ko Itakura came off in the 39th minute of the 1–1 draw with Sweden with undetermined discomfort. The Ajax centre-back is not thought to be carrying a serious injury and is expected to captain the side, though Shogo Taniguchi is on standby should Moriyasu opt for caution.

Takefusa Kubo remains unavailable, still not training fully due to the knee injury he sustained against the Netherlands on matchday one. Kaishu Sano is expected to return to the starting midfield at Yukinari Sugawara’s expense.

Daizen Maeda keeps his place after scoring against Sweden. Moriyasu has used the 3-4-2-1 without deviation since 2024 and is not expected to change shape.

Form

Brazil

Ancelotti’s side opened with a 1–1 draw against Morocco before finding their rhythm convincingly. Back-to-back 3–0 victories over Haiti and Scotland sent them through as Group C winners with genuine momentum.

Vinicius Junior scored in all three group games, accumulating a staggering 3.06 xG against Scotland alone — the highest by any single player in a World Cup match in tournament history.

Brazil are one of five teams to score in every group-stage game, and on each of the four previous occasions a Brazil player achieved that feat, the Seleção went on to win the tournament.

Japan

Japan are unbeaten in their last ten matches across all competitions, having arrived at this tournament on a six-match winning streak that included 1–0 victories over Scotland and England in March.

Their group stage combined structural discipline with attacking punch: a clinical 4–0 win over Tunisia was followed by the 1–1 draw with Sweden, where goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a series of critical saves.

The 2–2 draw with the Netherlands on matchday one further underlined their capacity to compete against elite opposition. Japan have never gone beyond the last 32 at a men’s World Cup. This squad, having beaten Brazil, England and drawn with the Netherlands in 2026, is the strongest the country has produced.