Brazil Eliminates Japan, Final Match Stats, Highlights & Updated World Cup 2026 Bracket

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 continued on Monday with a matinee matchup between Brazil and Japan, and Brazil stole a 2-1 comeback victory with a game-winning goal by Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage time.

After nearly 30 minutes of scoreless action, Japan's Kaishu Sano sent a shockwave through the opposing side with a breakaway goal following a turnover near midfield. Sano, who had incurred a yellow card earlier in the match, blew by Brazil's defenders unchallenged before firing a shot from the top of the box. It was his first career international goal, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Even after Japan's Daichi Kamada was shown a yellow card near the end of the first half, Brazil failed to take advantage. Four minutes of stoppage time were added to the end of the first half, but Japan was never in any real danger as Brazil went into halftime trailing.

Unsurprisingly, Brazil was a desperate team to start the second half. Players fired cross after cross into the box, but goalkeeper Zion Suzuki did an excellent job defending the net, and he got some help from Japan's back line.

Undeterred, Brazil stayed on the attack, and Casemiro headed in a cross from Gabriel Magalhães to level the game in the 56th minute.

Brazil kept the pressure on from there, and Vinícius Jr. made an incredible run that would've been one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, but Suzuki got a fingertip on the ball to deflect it off the post.

With six minutes of stoppage time added, Bruno Guimarães sent a through ball to the feet of Martinelli, who corralled it with his first touch before sending it past Suzuki for the game-winner.

Japan was seeking its first knockout-stage win in team history. The last time Brazil lost before the quarterfinals was in 1990.

Brazil will face the winner of Tuesday's match between Ivory Coast and Norway in the World Cup Round of 16 on Sunday.