FIFA World Cup 2026: Martinelli’s late strike seals a 2-1 comeback win for Brazil over Japan

Brazil 2-1 Japan

Gabriel Martinelli strikes deep into injury time, finishing off Brazil’s late surge to turn the game on its head in the dying moments of the Round of 32 clash. Japan are stunned as Brazil finally find the breakthrough they were pushing for all evening.

Casemiro comes off gingerly, with Fabinho coming on in his place as Brazil make a late change.

90+2’ | Brazil 1-1 Japan

Brazil dominate possession and push Japan deep, but the visitors stay solid at the back. J. Suzuki is booked for a late tackle on Danilo. A Rayan cross leads to a corner, but Japan clear. Martinelli then puts the ball out of play.

Shuto Machino comes on to replace Junya Ito as Japan make another attacking change.
Ao Tanaka is introduced for Daichi Kamada in midfield as they look to shore things up and regain control.

It’s all Brazil as they continue to probe for a breakthrough. Vinícius Júnior links up with Endrick, but the final pass is overhit as Martinelli is left frustrated. Japan manage to clear their lines again under mounting pressure.

Brazil are firmly in control now, piling on the pressure. Endrick dances past Japanese defenders before finding Vinícius Júnior out wide, but the move breaks down as Japan clear the danger.
Soon after, Gabriel Martinelli whips in a dangerous cross towards the back post where Rayan meets it, only for a deflection off Junnosuke Suzuki to send it behind for a corner. The set-piece comes to nothing as Japan hold firm under sustained Brazilian pressure.

Japan are struggling to control the play as Brazil look to push forward in search of another breakthrough

Gabriel Martinelli comes on to replace Matheus Cunha in a forward change for Brazil.
Japan make changes as Nakamura and Doan come off for J Suzuki and Sugawara.

Vinícius Júnior is inches away from putting Brazil ahead with a moment of individual brilliance. The winger nutmegs Takehiro Tomiyasu, skips past another defender with dazzling footwork and slips the ball beyond Zion Suzuki, only to see his effort cannon back off the post. Japan scramble the ball clear to survive a huge scare.

61' Brazil 1-1 Japan

Gabriel delivered a cross, which was headed in by Casemiro.

55' Brazil 1-1 Japan

Bruno Guimarães rises to meet a cross from Danilo, powering a header towards goal, but it is brilliantly saved by Zion Suzuki. The rebound is then cleared off the line as Japan survive back-to-back Brazilian chances.

Danilo is shown a yellow card after bringing down Daizen Maeda as the Japan forward surged forward at pace on the break.

48' Brazil 0-1 Japan

Brazil make first change
Endrick replaces Lucas Paquetá as Carlo Ancelotti makes Brazil's first substitution at the start of the second half.

Brazil trail 0-1 despite dominating possession (62%-38%).
⚽ Shots: Brazil 8 | Japan 4.
🎯 Shots on target: Brazil 3 | Japan 1.
📊 Possession: Brazil 62% | Japan 38%.
🎯 Pass accuracy: Brazil 92% | Japan 88%.
🟨 Yellow cards: Brazil 1 | Japan 2.

Japan have scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, the joint-most by an Asian nation in a single edition of the tournament. They equal South Korea's record from 2002.

Halftime | Brazil 0-1 Japan

Kamada gets a yellow for bringing down Bruno Guimaraes. There will be four minutes of added time.

45+1 mins: Brazil 0-1 Japan

Brazil struggle to create clear-cut chances as Japan look to double their lead.

Brazil push hard for an equaliser as Vinícius Jr. wins possession in a dangerous area and backheels to Lucas Paquetá, but Japan scramble back to clear. Moments later, Matheus Cunha tests the goalkeeper, but Suzuki makes another important save.

37' | Brazil 0-1 Japan

Kaishu Sano pounces on a loose pass from Danilo in midfield, bursts past Casemiro, and calmly curls a right-footed strike from outside the box into the bottom-left corner to give Japan a stunning 1-0 lead.

Play resumes after the hydration break, but Japan fail to capitalise as their corner comes to nothing, with the header on goal going wider.

Brazil have named their oldest starting XI for a FIFA World Cup knockout (29d & 245d) since the 2006 quarter-final against France (30y & 31d).

23' | Brazil 0-0 Japan

Brazil continue to stretch Japan's compact five-man defence, with Vinícius Jr. and Lucas Paquetá repeatedly reaching the byline on the left. However, Japan's backline stands firm, clearing both dangerous cut-backs as the Selecao search for a breakthrough.

21' | Brazil 0-0 Japan

Brazil remain on top after the opening 18 minutes, dominating 60% possession and outshooting Japan 3-1. The Selecao have also registered the game's only shot on target, while Japan are yet to test Alisson despite enjoying a 91% pass accuracy.

Japan win a free-kick in a dangerous area after Casemiro is booked for fouling Junya Ito just outside the box. Daichi Kamada's effort hits the wall, and the resulting corner is comfortably cleared by Brazil.

Matheus Cunha tries his luck from outside the box, but his slightly scuffed effort is pushed behind by Suzuki for a corner. Brazil's quick corner routine ends with Lucas Paquetá firing wide of the right post.

14' | Brazil 0-0 Japan

Japan create their first real attacking moment as Nakamura delivers a dangerous cross from the left, but Brazil clear the danger. Moments later, Kaishu Sano is booked for a late challenge on Vinícius Jr., earning the first yellow card of the game.

Brazil dominate possession in the opening minutes, pinning Japan's five-man defence deep inside its own box with a string of dangerous crosses. Danilo finds space down the right and delivers a threatening ball into the area, while Bruno Guimarães' effort ricochets off a teammate before falling to Vinícius Jr., but goalkeeper Suzuki reacts well to gather.

Brazil have dominated possession in the opening stages, keeping Japan pinned back with a series of dangerous deliveries into the penalty area.

Brazil launch the first attack of the match after Bruno Guimarães wins possession high up the pitch. Dropping into space just outside the box, the midfielder fires a shot that takes a deflection and goes wide for a corner.

Japan and Brazil battle for the Round of 16 spot begins

Kick-off at 10:30 PM IST

According to Opta's supercomputer, Brazil are the clear favourites to win the Round of 32 clash, with a 58.3% chance of victory in regulation time. Japan have been given an 18.1% probability of pulling off an upset, while the remaining likelihood accounts for a draw after 90 minutes and the match going to extra time.

Ancelotti on extra time and penalties

The Brazil boss said knockout football demands mental strength, adding that his team is prepared for every possible scenario, including extra time and penalty shootouts.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has named an unchanged starting lineup for the Round of 32 clash against Japan, keeping faith with the side that cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland. As expected, Neymar starts on the bench after returning from injury.

Starting XI (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Alisson
Defenders: Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Santos
Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Lucas Paquetá
Forwards: Rayan, Matheus Cunha, Vinícius Jr.

Suzuki (goalkeeper); Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito; Doan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Junya Ito, Ueda, Maeda

Neymar ready for bigger role against Japan, says Ancelotti
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar is fit enough to play longer minutes against Japan after making significant progress in his recovery.

• Brazil are five-time FIFA World Cup champions.
• Brazil have topped their World Cup group in 12 straight tournaments.
• Japan are aiming to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
• Nagatomo has now appeared at five World Cup editions (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026).

Yuto Nagatomo: "Japan are closing the gap on Brazil"
Japan veteran Yuto Nagatomo believes the Samurai Blue have improved faster than Brazil over the past two decades, saying the gap between the two nations has narrowed ahead of their Round of 32 showdown.

The Japan vs Brazil FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match kicks off at:

• 🇮🇳 India (IST): 10:30 PM, Monday, June 29
• 🇺🇸 US Eastern Time (ET): 1:00 PM
• 🇺🇸 Houston Local Time (CDT): 12:00 PM
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (BST): 6:00 PM
• 🇯🇵 Japan (JST): 2:00 AM, Tuesday, June 30
• 🇧🇷 Brazil (BRT): 2:00 PM