Brazil and Japan finally meet in the World Cup knockout stage

Brazil and Japan are set to cross paths this Monday, June 29, at NRG Stadium in Houston, in a highly anticipated 2026 World Cup round of 32 clash. The meeting between the two nations was a possibility in the last two editions of the tournament, but both teams saw their paths diverge due to eliminations by the same common adversaries: Belgium in 2018 and Croatia in 2022.

In the 2018 World Cup, Japan nearly pulled off an upset against Belgium in the round of 16, taking a 2-0 lead before ultimately losing 3-2. Brazil was then eliminated by the same Belgium side in the quarter-finals. Four years later in Qatar, the script repeated: Japan fell to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16, while Brazil suffered the same fate against the Croatians in the quarter-finals.

This year’s encounter marks the debut of the new 48-team format, featuring an expanded round of 32. For Japan, reaching this stage is a historic hurdle; they have reached the round of 16 in previous tournaments but have never managed to advance further. Brazil, meanwhile, is aiming to end a 24-year title drought, having not lifted the trophy since 2002.

Historically, Brazil holds a significant edge in the head-to-head record, with 11 wins and two draws in 14 matches against Japan. The only Japanese victory occurred in a friendly last year. Their only previous World Cup meeting took place in the 2006 group stage, where Brazil secured a dominant 4-1 victory.