Brazil and Japan face off this Monday in the Copa round of 32

Fabinho, Danilo and Neymar during Brazil’s training session in preparation for the clash against Japan in the Round of 32 of the World Cup, at Columbia Park Training CenterCredits: Nelson Terme/CBF

Brazil will face Japan on Monday afternoon (29) in the Round of 32 of the World Cup, at Houston Stadium in Houston, United States, at 2 p.m. Brasília time. The match is worth a place in the round of 16 and brings together Group C leaders Brazil and Group F runners-up Japan.

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In the first phase, the Seleção had a tough debut against Morocco and drew 1-1. Since then, they have shown collective improvement to beat Haiti 3-0 and repeat the scoreline against Scotland. Seven points and a goal difference of six secured first place in their group for the 12th consecutive edition, since the 1982 World Cup.

Among the attacking standouts of coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team are Vini Jr. and Matheus Cunha, with four and three goals each respectively, and Bruno Guimarães, who has provided three assists.

"The team is focused, motivated and prepared for everything that could happen in tomorrow’s game. A lot can happen, such as extra time and penalties. We are working on every aspect," Ancelotti said.

Carlo Ancelotti, Endrick, Léo Pereira, Danilo Santos and Neymar during the Seleção’s final training session before the clash against Japan in the Round of 32 of the World Cup, in HoustonCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Japan: 8th straight World Cup

The Blue Samurai advanced to the knockout stage unbeaten. They opened with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, thrashed Tunisia 4-0, and drew 1-1 with Sweden.

The Asian side is playing in its eighth World Cup. Since making its debut in the 1998 edition in France, it has never missed the tournament. Its overall record in the competition is 28 matches, eight wins, eight draws, 12 losses, 32 goals scored and 36 conceded.

Kaká during Brazil’s 4-1 win over Japan in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup, in DortmundCredits: FIFA

Head-to-head

Overall, the head-to-head record between Brazil and Japan stands at 14 matches, with 11 Brazilian wins, two draws and one defeat. Brazil has scored 37 goals and Japan eight.

Neymar is the top scorer in this fixture with nine goals, followed by Ronaldo, Paulinho, Zinho and Flávio Conceição with two each. There is also a list of 20 players who have scored once against Japan: Gabriel Martinelli, Paulo Henrique, Jô, Marcelo, Gabriel Jesus, Amoroso, Emerson, Bismarck, Roberto Carlos, Jorginho, Edmundo, Leonardo, César Sampaio, Sávio, Junior Baiano, Robinho, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Gilberto, Juninho Pernambucano and Kaká.

Vinicius Jr. during a friendly against Japan in October 2025, in TokyoCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Brazil’s only defeat to the Japanese came in the teams’ most recent meeting. On October 14, 2025, in Tokyo, the home side came from behind to win 3-2 — Paulo Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli scored Brazil’s goals in the match.

At the World Cup, they met in 2006 in the group stage. The Seleção won 4-1 at Signal Iduna Park in the German city of Dortmund, with goals from Ronaldo (2), Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto.

There were also three meetings in the Confederations Cup. In 2001, Brazil and Japan played out a scoreless draw in Kashima, Japan. Four years later, they drew again, this time 2-2, with goals from Robinho and Ronaldinho Gaúcho, in Cologne, Germany. In 2013, the Seleção won 3-0 in the opening match at Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília. Neymar, Paulinho and Jô found the net.

Neymar, the top scorer in the Brazil-Japan fixture, celebrates a goal against the Japanese in the opening match of the 2013 Confederations Cup, a 3-0 win at Mané Garrincha in BrasíliaCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

BROADCAST

The match between Brazil and Japan will be broadcast by: Globo and SBT (free-to-air TV), sportv and N Sports (pay TV), Ge TV (via Globoplay) and CazéTV (YouTube).

On-field officiating for Brazil vs. Scotland

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)

Assistant referee 1: Daniele Bindoni (Italy)

Assistant referee 2: Alberto Tegoni (Italy)

Fourth official: Sandro Schaerer (Switzerland)

Reserve assistant referee: Stephane de Almeida (Switzerland)

Gabriel Martinelli during Brazil’s 1-0 win over Japan in a friendly in June 2022, in TokyoCredits: Lucas Figueiredo/CBF

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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