Brazil vs Japan Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 32
It is a fascinating encounter in the Round of 32 at FIFA World Cup 2026, as five-time world champions Brazil take on a strong and enterprising Japanese side in Houston.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Brazil preview: Finding their best form
Brazil have endured a mixed time of it since the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti last year but the Selecao have begun to find some form in the group stages, having managed to snatch a draw against Morocco in their opener. They had been shaky early on in that one before Ancelotti tweaked things to control the rest of the game.
Moving on from that, Brazil then pipped The Atlas Lions to top spot in Group C as they hammered Haiti by three goals to nil with all three goals coming before half-time, before then defeating Scotland by the same scoreline in Miami. Vinicius Junior has scored four and provided one assist, hitting excellent form just at the right time.
Japan preview: Impressive despite injury
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has said he believes that Japan should try and challenge to win the FIFA World Cup but Samurai Blue have been dealt major injury issues throughout this summer with no Kaoru Mitoma or Takumi Minamino in the squad, Wataru Endo a late withdrawal and now Takefusa Kubo dealing with a knee injury.
Japan have shown the impressive depth that they have, though, to finish second in Group F without losing. They came from a goal down twice to share a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands before a 4-0 hammering of Tunisia. They then shared a 1-1 draw with Sweden in their final group stage game in Dallas.
Brazil team news: Raphinha still out
Barcelona winger Raphinha limped off against Haiti due to a hamstring injury and he missed out against Scotland. He is still unavailable for this one, too.
Carlo Ancelotti brought both Danilo and Matheus Cunha into the side in their second game and they are both expected to start again alongside Rayan, who replaced Raphinha against Scotland.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Guimaraes; Rayan, Paqueta, Vinicius; Cunha
Unavailable: Raphinha (Injured)
Questionable:
Japan team news: Itakura now a doubt
With those injuries, Japan have been shuffling things around, having gone with a back three for the tournament. Crucial to that is new captain Ko Itakura, who was forced off in the first half against Sweden and so is now a doubt.
Shuto Machino returned to the bench against the Swedish after illness but again couldn't come on, while Takefusa Kubo is again expected to be sidelined due to a knee injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Z. Suzuki; Seko, Watanabe, H. Ito; Sugawara, Kamada, Tanaka, Nakamura; Doan; Maeda, Ueda
Unavailable: Kubo (Fitness)
Questionable: Itakura (Injured)
Brazil’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Gabriel Magalhaes ($5.5m) – Defender
Vinicius Junior ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Matheus Cunha ($7.3m) – Forward
Matchday 4 captain pick: Vinicius Junior
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Vinicius Junior, Paqueta
Free kicks: Bruno Guimaraes
Corners: Bruno Guimaraes
Japan’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Daichi Kamada ($5.8m) – Midfielder
Daizen Maeda ($5.0m) – Midfielder
Ayase Ueda ($7.0m) – Forward
Matchday 4 captain pick: Ayase Ueda
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Ayase Ueda
Free kicks: Ritsu Doan, Daichi Kamada
Corners: Ritsu Doan, Junya Ito
Key stats
- The only previous FIFA World Cup meeting between the teams was in the 2006 group stage when Brazil won 4-1 in Dortmund, Ronaldo scoring twice.
- Brazil have won 11 of the 14 meetings between the sides (D2 L1), but that lone defeat came in their most recent encounter. Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu and Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti were in opposing dugouts when Japan claimed their first-ever win over Brazil in an October 2025 friendly, overturning a deficit to triumph 3–2 with Ayase Ueda scoring the decisive goal.
- Brazil are unbeaten in their ten FIFA World Cup fixtures on US soil (W7 D3).
- The Brazilians have led at half-time on 45 occasions at the FIFA World Cup and gone on to lose just once (W41 D3). Their sole defeat when ahead at the break came against the Netherlands in the 2010 quarter-finals.
- Vinícius Júnior is the first Brazilian to score in all three matches of a World Cup group stage since 2002, when both Ronaldo and Rivaldo achieved the feat. Each extended their streak to four by scoring again in the round of 16.
- Japan have reached the knockout rounds for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup – and for the fifth time in seven editions – having first achieved the feat as co‑hosts in 2002. Their total of five qualifications extends their AFC record.
- Japan’s seven goals after three matches already represent their highest‑ever tally at a FIFA World Cup, surpassing their return of six from 2018.
- Yūto Nagatomo has tied the Asian record of 16 FIFA World Cup matches played, held by Korea Republic’s Hong Myung‑bo.
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Brazil vs Japan prediction
Brazil looked shaky against Morocco and it will be a concern for Carlo Ancelotti that they haven’t been tested since then with neither Haiti nor Scotland able to lay a glove on the Brazilians in the rest of the group stages.
Japan, like Morocco, do play with a bit of zip in possession and have far more cohesion and quality in the final third than the Haitians or Scots so will challenge Brazil’s back-line that is strong, on paper, in the middle with Marquinhos and Gabriel but remain unconvincing down the flanks.
Japan will fancy themselves to score but the sheer amount of injuries may well eventually hurt them here and Brazil should get themselves over the line.
Brazil vs Japan betting tip: Brazil to win & both teams to score
