Brazil vs Japan live online: updates, goals, stats and highlights | 2026 World Cup round of 32

Japan still holding a tight back line and Brazil are still knocking on the door. If there is going to be a winner in the next few minutes, it looks like it's coming from the South Americans. 

This was Vini's individual bit of brilliance. So close to taking the lead and scoring for a fourth straight game. 

Vinicius hasn't had a chance to do much in this game. He had the one great chance he created all on his own. If he gets another chance don't bet against him. 

Tanaka in for Ito for the final 12 minutes. 

Half chance from Martinellii who looked to put a cleared cross on frame from the top of the area. 

Japan may not get another chance to see goal the way they are playing. If that's the case they have to prepared to put their lives on the line to defend this lead. 

Corner to the front post and that was cleared away by Japan who seem to be hanging on by a thread. 

Brazil have had the lion's share of possession all match and that shouldn't change for the last part of this match. Douglas Santos to Rayan on the back post and that header was deflected and out for a corner. 

We are back in action for the final 20 or so minutes from Houston. Will a winner be decided in the 90 or are we heading for extra time?

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HYDRATION BREAK FROM HOUSTON AND IT'S ALL BRAZIL AT THE MOMENT. 

Cunha out for Martinelli for Brazil and Doan and Nakamura are out for Suzuki and Sugawara for Japan.

Ueda on the left edge of the area and he wound up and laced one on goal with no support around him. Alisson needed to capture it on the second try after spilling the first save attempt.

This was the effort that was kept out from Casemiro. I'm still not sure how he didn't score, but what a heroic piece of defending to keep the ball out of the back of the net. 

Minutes after Casemiro's header was denied by Japan, he got another chance and was not going to spoil this one. Fantastic ball sent in from Rayan and the No. 5 snapped the header past Suzuki. 

Vini with a nutmeg on the take down on the left side, and took on one more defender in the area, cut in and then back to the end line. He had the space and directed it with the outside of his boot to the back post. It hit off the inside of the post and miraculously stayed out!! Suzuki might have got the slightest touch on that but it's all Brazil in this second half. 

That changes everything. Japan weren't comfortable with a goal advantage, but they had a margin of error. Now that has disappeared. Now how to they carry on???

INCREDIBLE!!!!

IT WAS CASEMIRO WHO WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GOAL LOOKING TO HEAD IT HOME BUT A WALL OF DEFENDERS WERE THERE TO BLOCK IT OFF THE LINE!!! SOMEHOW THEY KEPT IT OUT AFTER DOUGLAS SANTOS LAID IT BACK FOR CASEMIRO WHO WAS SURE HE WAS ABOUT TO SCOREQ

Guimaraes with a piercing header from the penalty spot after a wonderful ball put in from Danilo. Suzuki was there with some lightening quick reflexes to make the save. 

Brazil working the ball from touchline to touchline just looking for any sort of space within the middle of the park. Nothing doing so far for O Selecao 

Neymar starting to warm up as well on the touchline. Will Brazil look to their living legend in this second half? Much has been made about him being on this squad, you know he would love to shut up the critics who have been taking their shots over the last couple of weeks. 

Yellow cared shown to Danilo after he put a forearm into the back of Maeda who was trying to start the break despite being the only one pushing up for Japan. 

Brazil will come out with a certain sense of desperation to level this game. If Japan can hold strong, frustration will start to set in against such a crowded back line from Japan. 

Endrick gets the ball right off the bat and drives down the right side. He gave it up looking to get it back from Vinicius on the cross from the left side but Suzuki claimed it on the back post. 

WE ARE BACK IN ACTION FOR THE FINAL 45 FROM HOUSTON!!!

It's Paqueta for Endrick and Ancelotti is turning to his teenager to change the game off the bench. Much has been made about Endrick not getting much of a chance in this World Cup. This is his chance to make his mark on this tournament and make his mark on this team. 

The players are coming out of the tunnel, and Brazil is prepping sub. Endrick looks like he is putting on his boots and getting ready to play for the final 45 minutes. 

#SAMUARIBLUE is now trending on X and why wouldn't they. It would be a historic result for Japan. They have 45 minutes remaining. They have to defender their goal like exactly that, Samurais. 

It's 3 am in Tokyo but that is not going to stop the locals from watching their team. It will be a party in the streets of the Japanese capital if their side can upset Brazil. 

Whenever Brazil are on the big stage, the stars come out by the bucket loads. Jimmy Butler is enjoying his summer with a schedule full of soccer. He was at the Colombia Portugal game a few days ago, and now he's here in Houston. 

Just the one goal so far. It's Kaishu Sano who scored his first International goal with Japan on the biggest stage, against a giant of the game. Brazil invited him into the space and the midfielder took his space and punished a Brazil side that look out of sorts after 45 minutes. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK WITH THE WINNINGEST TEAM IN THIS TOURNAMENT WITH THEIR BACKS AGAINST THE ROPES.

Everyone in front of the area for Brazil with their back to goal, looking to receive the ball anyway they can. Paqueta got it there but had no time to turn and play Vini into the box. 

FOUR MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME!

As we were typing that, Kamada stops a counter attack by Brazil, taking down Guimaraes who had a full head of steam heading into the attacking half of the pitch. 

In fact, Brazil will welcome Japan pushing forward. Whatever takes them out of that 10 man back line they are playing since the goal will give Brazil more space to counter. 

Japan with an opportunity to push some players forward, sending in a couple crosses that didn't find anyone on the other end. Brazil won't mind them pushing bodies forward. 

Not sure how many people outside of Japan where expecting the Samurai Blue to take the lead on Brazil. It was Sano making magic all on his own. He was allowed a lane down the middle of the pitch and took it and took his chance like a world class striker. 

Laying it off to Cunha was Casemiro and the Manchester United man took a hopeful shot with is first touch. It was skimming off the surface here from Houston and right down the middle of Suzuki's goal. 

Japan have tucked back so tightly in their own box when Brazil have possession. They have what they were chasing. They have their one goal lead. Now it's time defend it with all their might, with all their heart and with the strategy that has made them so difficult to score on during this tournament. 

Vini at the center of everything again and he slipped it back for Paqueta whose shot was stifled by a well positioned back line for Japan. 

Vini tries his luck from distance and Brazil might just start to feel the noose tighten a bit before halftime. Easy save from Suzuki of the one hop. 

Back underway; Brazil with a Fuji-sized mountain to climb.

Japan recover the ball in the middle third after a poor pass inside from Danilo. It's Sano who takes possession and drives forward before sliding in a shot into the near bottom corner from the edge of the box.

WHAT A GOAL

(Way) OVER THE BAR. Ayase heads over Japan's corner. Good jump, bad effort.

We're back underway. 

Bielsa on hydration breaks:

Let's have a look at the words of Marcelo Bielsa as we await the end of the advertisements.

“In my view, it adds nothing and takes away a lot. When [the match] was divided into four periods, no thought was given to the effect it might have on what makes football such a captivating sport, but instead to other repercussions which I'm neither discussing nor analysing.”

And the game is stopped

Time for some FIFA-themed credit card sales from Christian Pulisic. 

Cunha's first mention of the evening. Sano is late as he goes to ground and the Manchester United forward rightly wants a free-kick on the left side of the box. The referee waves it away. Ciao.

We've cross the 20-minute mark, and the game has been quite even, with Brazil just edging it in terms of chances.

That's a reminder from Brazil. A poor cross-field pass is cut out and Vini Jr gets his chance to burn past his marker. Japan survive the scare, but the warning light that says DON'T GET COMPLACENT is flashing.

Japan's defensive line, as Brazil tap around the back, is indeed quite high, something Vini Jr will surely be salivating over. The only problem is that it's made up of 5 defenders, and their 3 midfielders (those capable of finding him behind the line) are being perfectly matched by the Asian side.

One, two, three... and Japan are in and behind Brazil's defensive unit. They're creeping into this game.

Kamada is over the ball... and his low strike hits the wall and bounces out for a corner.

And the former Real Madrid midfielder gets a booking for his silly challenge.

Speaking of reminders, Japan come racing out and Casemiro tumbles into Ito like a penguin diving off an ice cap. Free-kick to Japan, right on the edge of the box.

Brazil flash a few half chances past Suzuki's posts, just reminding him that they can turn it on when they want to.

Brazil have looked for an early ball into Vini Jr's feet a few times now, almost as though they're expecting him to find space in front of the back line, take the ball, spin, and wallop it into the top corner fro the edge of the box. I'd probably melt if anyone placed that amount of expectation on me. I can't even be guaranteed to take the bins out.

Sano is booked for a late, studs-up challenge on Vini Jr.

That scene in Spider-Man wasn't CGI, by the way. Sensational technique from Peter Parker.

Ding! Danilo gets down the right and a few fluffed shots come from his lofted cross. Japan survive and clear the danger.

Maeda is slightly slow to press both Danilo and Guimarães on his side, which is giving Brazil something of an in-road into the second half of the pitch.

Suzuki spills a long-range free-kick lofted into the box before catching the spillage like Spider-Man in that food hall scene where he catches all the lunch items on the tray.

Japan have settled into a mid-block as Brazil combine at the back. They open to the right and momentarily find space inside the Japan structure, before a long ball to nowhere ends their possession.

Japan get their first touches on the ball and it's Maeda down the left immediately causing problems for Marquinhos, who definitely didn't enjoy being 1vs1 against him.

CLOSE. Brazil come close as Guimarães' deflected effort from the right side spins wide of the near post.

One to watch...

Barely a minute in and Paquetá is already holding his hamstring. Keep an eye on that.

Brazil start with the ball and Japan spring into their press, with Ueda and Ito leading the line.

Ref watch!

The official for the game today is Maurizio Mariani, from Italy. He's on page 33 of the spotter's guide if you don't have his named checked off.

It never fails to disappoint...

The Brazilian national anthem is certainly one of my favourites.

And here they come!

The players are out and are on the pitch. But first... national anthems.

We're almost ready to go!

The two sets of players are trotting down the tunnel ahead of the final team talks before kick-off!

The noise levels are rising!

I have to say, both sets of fans have turned out in huge numbers for this game, and they're creating a party atmosphere inside Houston Stadium.

Twenty minutes to go!

The players are out and are warming up on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

Vini Jr so far at the World Cup:

Minutes: 260

Shots: 12

Goals: 4

Assists: 1

Marquinhos on Vini Jr

Vini Jr makes the difference on the pitch. We're growing, gaining confidence, and that helps him, too. 

And here's the Japan starting XI:

Hajime Moriyasu has a strong bench to choose from for later on, with names such as Tanaka and Kubo to choose from.

Another look at Ancelotti's lineup:

Here's how Brazil go into the game.

Japan to pack the midfield?

Given what we have seen so far from Brazil, it makes a lot of sense for Japan to try and overrun the midfield and try and gain an advantage in there.

The inclusion of Mainz's Sano over Ao Tanaka, a more ball-oriented player, will certainly help them to do that; his ability to cover distance is clearly valued in this game, at least in the first instance.

No Kubo for Japan  

He is one of the icons of Japanese soccer, but he has played only part of one match during this World Cup. Takefusa Kubo played 75 minutes against the Netherlands and assisted one of the goals before suffering a knee injury that kept him out for the final two group stage matches. He is training away from the team as his recovery continues, but he is far from ready for a return which means Japan will be without one of their most dangerous and creative players in the attacking third. 

A peek inside the dressing room

Yes, I know: we're not going to see a perfect kit clash of white vs dark, but instead we've got yellow vs white. FIFA, you continue to amaze me every day.

Raphinha to miss crucial mass

One of Carlo Ancelotti´s most relied upon weapons in the attacking third is Barcelona winger, Raphinha. The La Liga winner was injured in Brazil´s second match against Haiti. The muscle injury in his thigh kept him out of the final group stage match against Scotland, and Ancelotti is airing on the side of caution despite the severity of this knock out round clash against Japan.

Japan's World Cup history 

Japan´s World Cup history didn’t start until 1998. That was the first tournament they participated in, and since then have been a part of every World Cup. While their presence is a constant, they have never been past the round of 16. In the six appearances they have made the have been knocked out of group stages three times and the other three times have made it to the round of 16, but never any further. 

It's time. It's really happening.

Do not scratch your eyes! This is it; the moment has arrived. We have waited so long for this dream to be made a reality.

Japan will debut their astonishing white shirts tonight against Brazil. Unbridled joy is flowing over me.

How things look from inside the ground

It's all quiet at Houston Stadium... for now! At least until these guys get going.

Star watch: Brazil 

While this Brazil side is stacked with talent up top, there is one player who has risen to the occasion. Back with his former coach at Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelloti, Vinicius has been sensational in heading the attack for one of the most dangerous sides in this tournament. Vinicius is looking to put a difficult club season behind him and bring World Cup glory to his country for the first time in a long time, and is taking this team and carrying them on his back with 4 goals and 1 assists. 

Last match: Japan

There was plenty on the line in Japan´s final match of Group F. Japan played Sweden and the winner of that game would get the two spot while the third placed team would have to hope they would get one of the spots as one of the top eight third placed teams. Daizen Maeda scored a 56 minute goal to put Japan ahead but that was equaled out by Anthony Elanga six minutes later as both teams would share the spoils and Japan would advance to the round of 32 as the second placed team in the group. 

Last match: Brazil 

In the final match of their group stage, Brazil took on Scotland and the Tartan Army from Miami. The rowdy bunch of Scots were silenced by a first half brace from Vinicius Junior. One of the Golden Boot contenders added goals three and four to his World Cup tally in a match that Brazil saw Scotland enjoy just about even possession but they weren't able to do much with that possession Matheus Cunha added the 3-0 at the hour mark and O Selecao cruised to victory and won Group C.