Predict the score of the match Brazil vs Japan at World Cup 2026

Overview

Brazil and Japan will face each other in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup to compete for a ticket to the round of 16, where Norway or Ivory Coast are waiting. This notable confrontation will take place at the Houston stadium.

Brazil won the top spot in Group C after two 3-0 victories over Haiti and Scotland, and a 1-1 draw with Morocco. After being conceded an early goal by Morocco in the opening match, coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team scored 7 consecutive goals and kept a clean sheet in the remaining 2 matches.

Notably, this is Brazil’s longest consecutive winning streak at the World Cup since 2002 – the last World Cup they won.

Selecao also received positive signals when Neymar returned to play after 981 days of absence due to injury, thereby becoming the fourth Brazilian player to participate in four World Cups.

Brazil has been at the top of the group in every World Cup since 1982. However, going deep in the knockout round is no longer as easy as before. They have been eliminated in 4 of the last 6 knockout matches, more than the total number of eliminations in the previous 17 knockout matches. However, Selecao has never stopped right in the first knockout match since the defeat to Argentina at the 1990 World Cup.

Meanwhile, this confrontation is also of special significance because of the historical connection between the two countries. Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community in the world, while legend Zico has made great contributions to the development of the J.League. Many Brazilian-born players have also naturalized and played for the Japanese national team.

However, the difference in track record is still very large. Brazil has won the World Cup 5 times, while Japan has just entered the fifth knockout match in history and is still looking for their first victory in this stage.

Blue Samurai” closed the group stage at second place in Group F after a 4-0 victory over Tunisia and two draws against the Netherlands and Sweden.

In the draw with Sweden, veteran Yuto Nagatomo made history when he became the first Asian player to participate in five World Cups. Meanwhile, coach Hajime Moriyasu is also preparing for his eighth match at the World Cup, the most for an Asian coach.

Despite the absence of captain Wataru Endo and star Kaoru Mitoma due to injury, Japan still maintains a 10-match unbeaten streak, including a victory in a friendly match against Brazil.

Takefusa Kubo still leaves open the possibility of playing due to fitness issues, but Japan’s attack still shows remarkable effectiveness. Japan has scored 7 goals – the best achievement in their World Cup history.

Up to 10 Japanese players have scored or assisted at this year’s tournament, setting a new record. Striker Ayase Ueda is the most outstanding star with three direct goals.

Head-to-head record

Brazil completely dominated in their history against Japan when they only lost one of the 15 encounters between the two teams. In which, Selecao once defeated the opponent 4-1 in the only meeting between the two teams at the World Cup, which took place 20 years ago.

However, Japan’s only victory against Brazil came in the most recent confrontation. In a friendly match in October last year in Tokyo, Hajime Moriyasu’s team came back to defeat Selecao 3-2.

Score prediction: Brazil 3-1 Japan