Brazil vs. Japan live score, result, highlights from 2026 World Cup knockout game

The Round of 32 continues on Monday as five-time champions Brazil continues its World Cup 2026 campaign with a match against Japan.

The Selecao finished top of Group C, defeating Haiti and Scotland after starting with a draw against Morocco. Although not entirely convincing in terms of performances, Carlo Ancelotti's team has shown signs of real quality, not least in an attack led by the in-form Vinicius Junior.

Japan came through a difficult Group F, finishing in second place behind the Netherlands. The Samurai Blue drew with the Dutch and Sweden either side of thrashing Tunisia and now has sights set on a place in the Round of 16.

Hajime Moriyasu's side beat Brazil in a friendly match last November, so Ancelotti and his players will know not to underestimate them.

STREAM: Watch the 2026 World Cup live with fubo (U.S. only free trial)

Brazil vs. Japan score

Location: Houston
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA)

Starting lineups:

Brazil (4-3-3, right to left):  1. Alisson — 13. Danilo, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Gabriel, 16. D. Santos — 8. B. Guimaraes, 5. Casemiro, 20. L. Paqueta — 26. Rayan, 9. M. Cunha, 7. Vinicius Jr.

Japan (3-5-2, right to left): 1. Z. Suzuki (GK) — 3. S. Taniguchi, 22. T. Tomiyasu, 21. H. Ito — 10. R. Doan 15. D. Kamada, 24. K. Sano, 14. J. Ito, 13. K. Nakamura — 18. A. Ueda, 11. D. Maeda

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Brazil vs. Japan live updates, highlights from 2026 World Cup knockouts

(All times ET)

23. Sano avods red card!

Ooohh, a moment of controversy just before the hydration break. Kaishu Sano is already on a booking. He slides into a challenge on Cunha, realises he's about to foul him and pulls out. However, his momentum still cleans out the Manchester United player on the left-hand edge of the penalty area. Referee Mariani signals for a goal kick. If he'd given a foul there would have been a decision to make. 

17. Brazil stand firm under set-piece pressure

Kamada scuffs his free-kick into the bottom of the Brazil wall. Poor old Paqueta was there as the draft excluder. Ito clips a dangerous corner into the near post, where Casemiro clears

15. Casemiro into the book

Brazil's combative midfield workhorse scythes through the back of Ito and the Japan midfielder dribbles towards the area. That's a yellow card and Japan free-kick in a dangerous position.

10. Paqueta's painful start continues

Paqueta seems to have run off his hamstring pain. That's the good news. However, teammate Bruno Guimareas has just smashed a shot towards goal that hit the former West Ham man right in the face. Brazil easily looking like the most dangerous team early on. And not just to one another.

2. Early worry for Paqueta

Oh dear. Lucas Paqueta has gone down and is feeling his hamstring. He'll try to contnue for now. Bruno Guimareas wins a corner that Japan clear easily.

Kickoff

Brazil get us underway, Japan in their change strip of white shirts and black shorts. Brazil in the famous canary yellow with blue shorts.

Prematch

11:50 a.m - Here come the teams. It's anthems time. It's some atmosphere in Houston, where we're ready for liftoff.

11 a.m. - Let's have a look at today's line-ups. For the first time during his Brazil tenure, Carlo Ancelotti has named an unchanged XI. That means Neymar has to be content with a place on the bench once more. Raphinha has not recovered from his injury sufficiently to be involved in the matchday squad.

For Japan, there's still no Takefusa Kubo. Junya Ito, who scored against Tunisia, comes back into the lineup. Experienced former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is into the back three. It also looks like Hajime Moriyasu might tweak his formation slightly to 3-5-2

10 a.m. - The last time these two sides met in an October 2025 friendly, Japan claimed a famous victory, winning 3-2 from 2-0 down. It was not a full-strength Brazil in Tokyo, but Casemiro, Bruno Gimaraes, Lucas Paqueta and Vinicius Jr. all started and are expected to do so today.

MORE: Japan vs. Brazil score: International friendly highlights, stats, result as Selecao collapse from 2-0 up

9 a.m. - It's day two of the 2026 World Cup knockouts. First up on Monday, it's five-time champions Brazil taking on Japan in Houston. These teams met last year in an entertaining friendly in which Japan came from two goals down to win 3-2. We couldn't see a repeat, could we?

Where to watch Brazil vs. Japan in World Cup

Brazil vs. Japan start time

• Date: Monday, June 29
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET

The match kicks off at at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, June 29. It is the first of three Round of 32 matches today.

What channel is Brazil vs. Japan on today?

• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: Fubo (U.S. only free trial)

This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.

The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up for a FREE trial.

*Following day

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World Cup 2026 knockouts schedule

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Third-place match

Final