FIFA 2026: Brazil Dig Deeper To Eliminate Japan, Reach Round of 16

 

Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in a hard-fought Round of 32 match, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a stoppage-time goal that decided the game. 

The Japanese side was playing in their fifth appearance in the FIFA World Cup knockouts and had never progressed past this stage. Despite taking an early lead and their bid to force the match to extra time, Brazil snatched the victory in injury time. 

Kaishu Sano put Japan in the lead with an individual effort that caught the Brazilian defense off guard. The attacker advanced towards the box in a fast break and struck a 20-yard shot towards the right post, beating Allison to the net in the 26th minute. 

Brazil fought back in the second half and equalised when Casemiro headed Gabriel Magalhaes's cross into the top corner. As the game advanced into stoppages, Bruno Guimaraes slipped a pass to Martinelli, who, in turn, struck the ball into the left corner of the post. 

The defeat ended Japan's bid to win their first match in the FIFA World Cup knockouts and they are now eliminated. The Brazilians are the second team to progress to the Round of 16 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Overview 

The Japanese were incredibly efficient. They were relentless and pacey. They maintained a good composure towards the Brazilians' aggression, and their goalkeeper played a crucial role in that.  

Brazil had to dig deeper to break the Japanese resolve. They were locked out of the defense and forced to use aerial balls to penetrate until Martinelli broke into the penalty.  The Japanese coach's gamble of reinforcing his defense shortly after Casemiro's equaliser did not pay off as Brazil brought in fresh attackers. 

Chances and defense 

Sano's opener was Japan's best moment of the first half. He caught Allison off guard with the long-range effort. However, Brazil also had their moments in the second half. Bruno Guimaraes' glance header landed rightly in Zion Suzuki's hand. 

Suzuki was a standout for Japan, saving Mathew Cunha's header on the goalline and later deflecting Vinicius Junior's low-cut side-footed volley to clip the left post. Vini's effort was the closest Brazil came to getting the second goal before Martinelli struck. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Shogo Taniguchi left a wide space for Martinelli to react quickly to Guimaraes' pass.