Brazil booked their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after securing a dramatic 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Japan in their Round of 32 clash at Houston Stadium on Monday.
The five-time world champions were pushed all the way by an impressive Japanese side before Gabriel Martinelli struck the decisive winner in extra time, sending Brazil into the next round.
يبكون من اجل وطنهم يذرفون الدموع من اجل شعارهم هكذا تشريف وحب الوطن إذا خسرت في الملعب لاتخسر في مشاعرك وقيمتك pic.twitter.com/lSlEyZ82sD
— هارستون (@bd__v) June 29, 2026
Japan stunned Brazil in the 29th minute when Kaishu Sano fired a low shot into the net to give the Samurai Blue a deserved first-half lead.
Brazil responded after the break through midfielder Casemiro, who headed home in the 58th minute to level the score and force the match into extra time after neither side could find a winner in regulation.
With extra time and penalties looming, Martinelli produced the decisive moment, scoring a late extra-time winner to seal Brazil's hard-fought victory and keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Don Carlo keeps his head, when all around are losing theirs. pic.twitter.com/y342UYCjZz
— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) June 29, 2026
Brazil will now face the winner of the Round of 32 encounter between Ivory Coast and Norway in the Round of 16.
— World Cup 2026 (@ofootball__) June 29, 2026
Despite the defeat, Japan achieved a historic milestone by equaling South Korea's record for the most goals scored by an Asian nation in a single FIFA World Cup, reaching a total of eight goals, the same mark set by South Korea at the 2002 tournament.
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