Japan meet Brazil in the World Cup round of 32
Japan face Brazil in the round of 32 Monday
This is it. Japan vs Brazil at NRG Stadium, the World Cup round of 32, Monday June 29 (1) (6) (7). Winner advances. Loser goes home.
Your team reached this point by thrashing Tunisia 4–0 and drawing Netherlands 2–2 in the group stage. Ayase Ueda has three goals in the tournament so far (3). The Feyenoord striker, top scorer in the Eredivisie this season, is the man Brazil's backline will be watching.
Graham Potter's press conference made waves. "We can win this World Cup," he told reporters ahead of the Brazil clash (3). He also hinted at rotation to manage recovery, Sano Kaishu had already flagged the quick turnaround between group-stage matches. The full squad should be available.
Marquinhos fires back at Shiogai
The pre-match tension has an edge. Japan forward Kento Shiogai made comments about Brazil that reached the Brazil camp, and captain Marquinhos did not let them slide. "Maybe it was a bit of arrogance on their part. Brazil is still a great national team. We just need to show our great strength tomorrow, our great quality," Marquinhos said on Sunday (9).
Alex Santos backs Japan
Former Japan international Alex Santos, a Brazilian by birth who played two World Cups for Japan, is picking your team. "Collectively, Japan is better than Brazil. Brazil are favorites, but Japan can surprise," he said (13).
Rodrygo on Ancelotti's preparation
Rodrygo knows Carlo Ancelotti better than most. The Real Madrid forward wrote in The Guardian that the Brazil coach always has a plan: "For anyone outside the dressing room it is hard to predict what the Mister will do but he will be prepared for Japan on Monday" (8).
Ancelotti himself was looser with the press. "It's not a two-legged tie, you die and there's no going back," he said (11). He also joked about team selection: "The player sleeps very well. Better than the coach" (12). Neymar remains a fitness concern, with Ancelotti still weighing whether to start him (10) (11) (12).
Brazil are favorites on paper. Japan have the collective strength, the tournament momentum, and a striker in Ueda who cannot stop scoring. NRG Stadium will tell.
Fan reactions
The r/worldcup community has this one circled. One user called Brazil vs Japan the most interesting match of the entire round of 32, and the thread filled up with neutrals picking Japan as a genuine threat to the Seleção (1). Plenty of fans are also asking the eternal question about why Japan wear blue instead of red and white, a debate that surfaces every tournament cycle.
Sources
- 1. expressen.se — VM 2026 i dag – höjdpunkter och matcher månda 29 juni
- 3. ge.globo.com — Alvo da Premier League e pupilo de Van Persie: conheça Ueda, artilheiro do Japão na Copa
- 6. cbssports.com — Brazil vs. Japan odds, prediction, time: 2026 World Cup Round of 32 picks from expert on 31-13 run
- 7. fussballnationalmannschaft.net — Fußball heute WM: Wer spielt am Montag 29.6. bei WM 2026?
- 8. theguardian.com — Father figure Carlo Ancelotti will have a plan for Brazil. He always has a plan | Rodrygo
- 9. ge.globo.com — Marquinhos chama de "soberba" frase de atacante japonês sobre o Brasil: "Que continuem falando"
- 10. telegraaf.nl — LIVE WK 2026 | Japan niet bang voor Brazilië, Neymar nog altijd zorgenkindje Carlo Ancelotti
- 11. ole.com.ar — Ancelotti: "No es un mata-mata, es un mata y no hay vuelta atrás"
- 12. ge.globo.com — Ancelotti brinca sobre mistério na escalação da Seleção: "Jogador dorme melhor do que o treinador"
- 13. ge.globo.com — Brasileiro que jogou duas Copas pelo Japão aposta no time asiático: "No coletivo, é melhor"