Brazil booked their place in the FIFA World Cup last 16 after Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Japan at Houston Stadium. The five-time world champions survived a huge scare before completing a memorable comeback to end Japan’s brave World Cup campaign.
Many viewed this clash as the standout tie of the Round of 32, with the winners earning a place in the last 16 against either Ivory Coast or Norway. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti named an unchanged starting XI after the comfortable 3-0 victory over Scotland.
Rayan, Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha led the attack, while Neymar started on the bench after making his tournament debut as a substitute in the previous match. Japan made four changes following their 1-1 draw with Sweden as Hajime Moriyasu refreshed his defence. Taniguchi, Tomiyasu, Sano and Ito all returned, while Ayase Ueda continued to spearhead the attack.
The match began at a relentless pace as both teams pressed high and looked determined to seize control early. Brazil created the first real opening in the 13th minute when Cunha managed to shoot from 20 yards despite losing his balance. However, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki comfortably guided the effort wide.
Japan responded after the restart and nearly struck first in the 28th minute when Ayase Ueda rose highest to meet a corner, but his looping header drifted over the crossbar with Alisson Becker watching nervously.
A minute later, Japan stunned Brazil by taking the lead. Danilo surrendered possession in midfield, allowing Sano to burst forward past Casemiro without a challenge. The midfielder drove 20 yards before firing a superb strike from outside the penalty area beyond Alisson to spark wild celebrations among the Japanese supporters.
The goal also highlighted an unusual statistic. Brazil had now conceded two goals from outside the penalty area during the 2026 World Cup, having not allowed more than one such goal in a single tournament since 1982.
Japan defended superbly for the remainder of the half and frustrated Brazil, who struggled to create meaningful chances. By half-time, the Asian side held a deserved 1-0 advantage. Sano’s clinical finish from Japan’s only shot on target separated the teams, while Brazil’s limited attacking efforts failed to seriously trouble Suzuki. Carlo Ancelotti’s men faced the real prospect of a shock exit unless they improved dramatically after the break.
Brazil almost found an equaliser in the 53rd minute when Danilo delivered a cross for Bruno Guimaraes, whose header forced another routine save from Suzuki.
Two minutes later, Japan produced a remarkable defensive moment. A deep cross found Casemiro just yards from goal, and his diving header looked destined for the net before Tomiyasu instinctively blocked the effort on the goal line to preserve Japan’s lead.
Brazil finally found their breakthrough in the 56th minute. Gabriel delivered an excellent cross from the left, and Casemiro escaped his marker at the back post before powering a header beyond Suzuki to level the match at 1-1. The experienced midfielder redeemed himself after his earlier mistake that led to Japan’s opener. At 34 years and 126 days old, Casemiro also became Brazil’s second-oldest World Cup goalscorer behind Bebeto, who scored at 34 years and 137 days during the 1998 tournament.
Brazil almost completed the turnaround on the hour mark with a moment of brilliance from Vinicius Junior. The winger controlled the ball superbly, nutmegged Tomiyasu and unleashed a powerful strike that Suzuki brilliantly tipped onto the post with his fingertips.
The pressure continued to build. In the 75th minute, Rayan drifted free at the back post but saw his header pushed behind for another corner. Japan, meanwhile, struggled to threaten after the interval and increasingly found themselves pinned inside their own half as Brazil dominated possession and territory.
Just when extra time looked inevitable, Brazil produced the decisive moment in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Bruno Guimaraes slipped a clever pass into Gabriel Martinelli, who controlled the ball under pressure before curling a precise finish beyond Suzuki and into the far corner. The dramatic 95th-minute winner broke Japanese hearts and secured Brazil’s place in the last 16.
Soon after the goal, Bruno Guimaraes made way for Danilo Santos, while Japan introduced Koki Ogawa for Daizen Maeda in one final attempt to rescue the contest. However, Brazil calmly saw out the remaining minutes.
At the final whistle, Brazil celebrated a hard-fought comeback that kept their World Cup dream alive. Japan left Houston devastated after producing an outstanding display for much of the contest, but Ancelotti’s side eventually found the quality needed to progress. Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory and sent Brazil into the last 16 after one of the most entertaining matches of the knockout stage.
