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The fourth hurdle on the road to a sixth title
On Monday, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Brazil and Japan will take to the pitch to battle it out for a place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
It will be yet another chapter in a history that has already seen 14 meetings between the two sides.
As a warm-up to this clash, it is worth looking back at their previous encounters and understanding how the five-time world champions and the East Asian giants have built this rivalry in the run-up to this year’s match.
Chapter One: Rio de Janeiro, 1989
The first match between Brazil and Japan took place almost 40 years ago, on 23 July 1989.
At that time, the Japanese league was still semi-professional, although the country was already taking significant steps towards the professionalisation of football, something that would become a reality a few years later. The national team was also made up, for the most part, of amateur players, and the sport was still a long way from matching the popularity of sumo and baseball. Until then, Japanese football’s greatest achievement had been the bronze medal won at the 1968 Olympic Games.
In Brazil, the situation was quite different. Football had been professional since the 1930s, and the country had established itself as one of the sport’s major powers, both at club level and with the national team, which already had three World Cup titles to its name: 1958, 1962 and 1970.
As a result, many people expected a rout when Japan travelled to Rio de Janeiro to face Brazil for the first time at the São Januário Stadium.
The result, however, was far from a rout. Brazil won by just 1–0, thanks to a clinical header from Bismarck in the 74th minute, following a cross from Cristóvão Borges.
As well as being the first ever meeting between the two nations, the match also marked one of the earliest chapters in Cláudio Taffarel’s career with the national team. The goalkeeper had made his debut just a year earlier and, from then on, would go on to become one of the great idols of the modern era of the ‘Amarelinha’, with over 100 caps, two Copa América titles and a decisive role in winning the 1994 World Cup.
Taffarel has fond memories of that day: “I have fond memories of it. It was my debut for the senior national team, in a ‘strange’ friendly, so to speak, playing against Japan in Brazil. [...] It’s very rewarding to have that memory.” (CBF TV)
The Umbro Cup: Liverpool, 1995
It was several years before Brazil and Japan faced each other again.
The rematch took place on 6 June 1995, as part of the so-called Umbro Cup. The international friendly tournament was sponsored by the sports brand, then kit supplier to the England national team, and served as a sort of warm-up for Euro 1996. The matches were played at various stadiums across England.
Fresh from being crowned four-time world champions, Mário Zagallo’s Brazil took part in the competition and went on to win the title, beating England, Sweden and Japan.
The 3–0 victory over Japan was far more the sort of dominant performance one would have expected from the first match between the two nations, a few years earlier.
Even without Romário and Bebeto, Brazil put on a real spectacle in front of more than 29,000 fans in the rain at Goodison Park, Everton’s ground in Liverpool.
The anticipation to see the world champions was so great that the match kicked off 15 minutes late. The crowd took a while to enter the stadium, and Everton’s board reported that around 3,000 people were unable to arrive in time.
Just six minutes into the game, Roberto Carlos opened the scoring in style. After receiving a pass from Ronaldo, he burst forward at speed and fired a low shot into the net to score a fine goal.
The other two Brazilian goals came in the second half, both scored by Zinho, who at the time was playing for Yokohama Flügels in Japan.
The finest of these came from a cross by Juninho Paulista. The ball deflected off defender Masami Ihara and fell to Zinho, who struck a superb volley.
Despite the three-goal defeat, Japan were praised for their attitude on the pitch, pressing forward until the very end and never sitting back defensively at any point.
Striker Kazu Miura chose to highlight the lessons learnt from the match: “The Brazilians’ technical ability was very high. When we tried to tackle, our reaction time wasn’t the best and they left us in their wake. But if we face experienced teams like this in the future, we’ll have a better chance of achieving good results.” (Cayman Compass)
The fact that Zinho was playing in Japanese football at that time was no mere coincidence.
In fact, he was part of a trend that had a very clear starting point.
In 1991, Zico, already established as one of the greatest legends of Brazilian football, surprised everyone by coming out of retirement, at the age of 38, to play for Sumitomo Metals, a club based in the city of Kashima that was competing in the Japanese second division and dreaming of securing a place in the J1 League, the country’s first fully professional league, which officially debuted in 1993.
Just as he had done for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team, Zico became the top scorer in Japan too. Sumitomo Metals soon secured promotion to the top flight and changed its name to Kashima Antlers.
Zico’s arrival is regarded as one of the most significant moments in the history of Japanese football, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the professional league and the popularisation of the sport in the country.
The experience proved so successful that, in the years that followed, several Brazilian stars crossed the ocean to play in Japan.
The thrashing on Japanese soil: Tokyo, 1995
The influence was so great that, when Brazil and Japan faced each other for the third time – just two months after that second encounter – the Brazilian national team took to the pitch with a record seven players who were playing in Japanese football: goalkeeper Gilmar (Cerezo Osaka); defenders Ronaldão (Shimizu S-Pulse) and Jorginho (Kashima Antlers); and the midfielders César Sampaio (Yokohama Flügels), Dunga (Júbilo Iwata), Leonardo (Kashima Antlers) and Zinho (Yokohama Flügels).
It was 9 August 1995 – a day of intense heat at the Tokyo National Stadium and the 64th birthday of the legendary manager Mário Zagallo. On the pitch, Brazil secured an even more convincing victory than in their previous encounter, thrashing Japan 5–1.
The Seleção’s first goal came following an unfortunate mistake by goalkeeper Nobuyuki Kojima, who ended up scoring an own goal after a corner taken by Jorginho. A few minutes later, Edmundo extended Brazil’s lead.
Early in the second half, however, Japan made history. After intercepting a misplaced pass from Edmundo, Kazuyoshi Miura started the move that ended at the feet of Masahiro Fukuda. The striker struck with his right foot to score Japan’s first ever goal against the Brazilian national team.
The goal, however, did not unsettle the four-time world champions. Brazil found the net a further three times before the final whistle, through Leonardo, César Sampaio – who scored his first goal for the national team – and, finally, Sávio.
Despite the comfortable victory, some Brazilian players did not hold back in their criticism of the Japanese performance after the match.
Dunga described the Japanese as “naive” and said the team lacked more “cunning”.
Careca was even harsher: “That wasn’t even a training session; it was a kickabout. They’re a bit full of themselves here, but they’ve got a lot to learn.” (Folha de São Paulo)
Although the match between Brazil and Japan at the 1996 Olympic Games does not feature on the list of official fixtures between the senior national teams – as it was contested between under-23 sides – it occupies an important place in the footballing history of both countries.
In what became known as the “Miracle of Miami”, the Japanese Olympic team – which hadn’t taken part in the Olympics for 28 years – beat Brazil for the first time: 1–0.
The Brazilian national team went into the tournament as one of the favourites for gold, boasting a generation brimming with talent such as Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Bebeto and Roberto Carlos. But they were left stunned when midfielder Teruyoshi Ito, then just 21 years old, scored the winning goal for Japan and was at the heart of one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Years later, Dunga himself – who in 1995 had dismissed the Japanese as “naive” in a tone of superiority – appeared to have revised his opinion: “The current crop of Japanese players is excellent because they show initiative and are capable of springing surprises. They no longer bow their heads to every order. They are no longer bound by the Japanese culture of obedience and discipline and, as a result, have become more creative and dangerous.” (Folha de São Paulo)
The tense clash: Osaka, 1997
Even so, the comments made by Dunga and Careca in 1995 left a certain amount of resentment amongst the supporters of both countries. Consequently, when the senior national teams met again on 13 August 1997 at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, the friendly match was anything but friendly.
Brazilian and Japanese supporters clashed throughout the match, and two pitch invaders even made it onto the pitch – one of them proudly carrying a Brazilian flag. After the final whistle, the tension continued and the police had to intervene to separate the supporters.
Amidst this hostile atmosphere, there was also a brief moment of warmth. Leonardo was applauded by the Japanese fans, who still had fond memories of his two-year spell with Kashima Antlers. When he was substituted in the 27th minute of the second half, the midfielder returned the affection by throwing his boots into the stands.
On the pitch, however, the script was similar to previous encounters: another convincing victory for Brazil, this time by 3–0. Defensive midfielder Flávio Conceição, then playing for Deportivo La Coruña, scored the first two goals of the match, whilst Flamengo defender Júnior Baiano sealed the victory with a header.
A new chapter in Japan: Tokyo, 1999
Brazil’s return to the Tokyo National Stadium on 31 March 1999 ended in yet another victory over Japan. This time, the Seleção won 2–0, with goals from Márcio Amoroso and Emerson.
Although the result seemed all too familiar, the Brazilians were beginning to realise just how rapidly Japanese football was evolving and the talents the country was producing, including attacking midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, then aged 22.
A standout player for Perugia in Italy, Nakata had received his first call-up to the ‘Ballon d'Or’ the previous year and was already regarded as Japan’s leading technical talent.
Before the match, Brazil’s manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo made a point of highlighting the player’s qualities: “Nakata is intelligent and very skilful. We’ll be paying particular attention to his movements.” (Folha de São Paulo)
In the end, Nakata did not find the net, but Luxemburgo’s statement symbolised a shift in Brazil’s attitude towards Japan. The Asian nation was no longer seen merely as a fledgling, developing side, but rather as an emerging force that deserved respect on the international stage.
The Confederations Cup clash: Kashima, 2001
The first meeting between Brazil and Japan in an official competition was to take place just over two years later, at Kashima Soccer Stadium on 4 June 2001, during the group stage of the Confederations Cup.
The tournament was held in South Korea and Japan and served as a test event for the following year’s World Cup, which was to be co-hosted by the same two countries.
After years of clear dominance in friendlies, Brazil were unable to replicate their supremacy when the match counted for points. The fixture ended in a 0–0 draw.
At the end of the group stage, Japan topped the group, whilst Brazil finished second.
Although France, the reigning world champions at the time, lifted the trophy at the end of the tournament, it was Brazil who would have the last laugh at the 2002 World Cup, winning their fifth title on Japanese soil at the Yokohama International Stadium.
The rematch at the Confederations Cup: Cologne, 2005
The next meeting between Brazil and Japan took place in yet another edition of the Confederations Cup, this time on 22 June 2005 at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. The tournament served as preparation for the 2006 World Cup, which was to be held in Germany.
Once again, Brazil failed to maintain their record of dominance over the Japanese and the match ended in a 2–2 draw.
Japan’s goals were scored by Shunsuke Nakamura and Masashi Oguro. The Brazilians, meanwhile, found the net in a curious exchange of favours: first, Ronaldinho provided the assist for Robinho to score; then it was Robinho’s turn to set up Ronaldinho.
Despite the draw, only Brazil progressed to the semi-finals, thanks to a superior goal difference. The Seleção finished second in the group, behind Mexico, whilst Japan came third.
The result was particularly bitter for the Japanese because one of their goals had been disallowed, depriving them of what could have been a historic victory over Brazil.
The Seleção went on to win the title a few days later, with Adriano – twice nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ – being named the tournament’s best player. However, Brazil’s campaign at the following year’s World Cup would prove far less successful.
The World Cup night: Dortmund, 2006
And it was at the 2006 World Cup that the two teams met again.
The match took place on 22 June at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, in the third and final round of the group stage.
Interestingly, in both the 2005 and 2006 matches, Japan’s manager was none other than Zico, the Brazilian legend who had become one of the greatest icons in the history of Japanese football.
Before the match, the former star chose not to reveal the line-up to the press and only disclosed it to the players on the afternoon before the game, believing that the element of surprise might give him a strategic advantage against Brazil.
It didn’t work out.
Although Japan took the lead through a goal from Keiji Tamada in the 34th minute, the ‘Blue Samurai’ ended up suffering a 4–1 defeat. Ronaldo scored twice, whilst Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto completed the Brazilian rout.
It was a night of mixed emotions for Zico, torn between two countries that hold a special place in his life. Asked before the match whether he would sing the Brazilian national anthem alongside the national team players, he replied with a statement that sums up this dilemma well: “Whatever the circumstances, I sing the anthem and am moved by it. But it all ends the moment the ball starts rolling.” (Folha de São Paulo)
Brazil finished top of their group, whilst Japan finished bottom and were knocked out. The Seleção would also end up bowing out of the tournament in frustrating fashion, losing to France in the quarter-finals.
The Brazilian spectacle: Wrocław, 2012
It would be six years before Brazil and Japan met again on the pitch.
The reunion took place in a friendly match played on 16 October 2012 at the Wrocław Municipal Stadium, in the Polish city of the same name.
The stadium had been built specifically for Euro 2012, but fell into disuse after the tournament. As the construction had been costly, hosting international friendlies was seen as a way of breathing new life into the venue.
On the day of the match, however, attendance was so much lower than expected that, to avoid a major financial loss for the city, local schools gave their pupils the day off to watch the game. Even so, the stands were far from full when Brazil and Japan faced each other for the ninth time.
Undeterred by the lacklustre atmosphere, Brazil put on a spectacular display under manager Mano Menezes and won 4–0.
Without a designated centre-forward, the Brazilian attack operated fluidly and dynamically, with a quartet comprising Kaká, Neymar, Oscar and Hulk.
Neymar scored twice, Kaká got on the scoresheet and Paulinho rounded off the rout.
The result brought relief to Menezes, who had been under considerable pressure following a run of disappointing performances and results.
And the opposition were far from being the perennial underdogs of previous decades. Japan arrived in fine form, with a talented generation led by world-renowned names such as Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, and were coming off the back of a 1–0 victory over France in their previous friendly.
The home victory: Brasília, 2013
Less than a year later, on 15 June 2013, the two sides met again, this time on Brazilian soil.
The match took place at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília, as part of the opening round of the Confederations Cup.
In the end, Brazil’s victory was relatively comfortable. The Seleção scored two early goals: one just three minutes into the first half, courtesy of Neymar, and another three minutes into the second half, courtesy of Paulinho.
In stoppage time, Jô, of Atlético Mineiro – called up at short notice following Leandro Damião’s injury – seized the opportunity to score his own goal and seal a 3–0 victory.
As tournament hosts, Brazil finished top of the group, whilst Japan came bottom.
A few days later, the Seleção would go on to win the Confederations Cup, and Neymar would be named the tournament’s best player.
Neymar’s masterclass: Kallang, 2014
Two years later, Brazil thrashed Japan once again, this time 4–0.
The match was played on 14 October 2014 at the then newly opened Singapore National Stadium in Kallang, and attracted the largest crowd for a football match in the country in over five years.
The more than 51,000 fans in attendance were treated to a masterclass from Neymar.
At the age of 22, the star was enjoying a brilliant spell at Barcelona, where he had been shining for around a year and a half. However, he had not played for the national team for three months, since suffering a back injury at the 2014 World Cup following a challenge by the Colombian Juan Camilo Zúñiga.
Even after such a long time away from the national team, Neymar returned eager to prove himself.
And prove himself he did.
The number 10 scored all four of Brazil’s goals: two with his right foot, one on the half-volley and another with a header.
The performance also held special significance in statistical terms. With those four goals, Neymar reached a total of 40 goals for the national team. Today, more than a decade later, that figure has risen to 79, a tally that makes him Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Looking back at the line-up from that night, a few names also stand out, such as right-back Mário Fernandes, who just two years later would go on to play for the Russian national team.
Tite’s first test: Lille, 2017
The next meeting between Brazil and Japan took place on 10 November 2017, in a friendly match played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
It was the first time the Brazilian national team had played in the famous city in northern France.
Then-manager Tite used the match to assess various squad options and evaluate which players might earn a place in the squad for the 2018 World Cup.
The result was another Brazilian victory, this time by 3–1.
Neymar opened the scoring with a penalty, but was denied the chance to score again minutes later when Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima saved his second spot-kick of the night.
Even so, other players stepped up to decide the match. Marcelo scored with a strike from his right foot – traditionally his weaker foot – and Gabriel Jesus also found the net before half-time.
In the second half, defender Tomoaki Makino pulled one back for Japan with a header.
Corinthians goalkeeper Cássio, making his debut for the national team, was criticised for failing to save the shot. Even so, his performance did not prevent him from being included in Tite’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Tite’s second test: Tokyo, 2022
On 6 June 2022, Tite once again used a friendly as a test to assess his options ahead of a World Cup – this time, the tournament to be held later that year in Qatar.
In a much more evenly matched game than many of the previous encounters between the two sides, Brazil beat Japan 1–0 at the Tokyo National Stadium. The goal came from a penalty, converted by Neymar in the 77th minute.
The historic turnaround: Tokyo, 2025
Last year, Brazil and Japan faced each other again for the 14th and most recent time, in a friendly at Ajinomoto Stadium, also in Tokyo. Just as Tite had done ahead of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Brazil’s new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, used the match to trial different players and fine-tune the squad for the ongoing World Cup.
The match went down in history.
Brazil started better and went into the break leading 2–0, with goals from right-back Paulo Henrique, of Vasco, and winger Gabriel Martinelli, of Arsenal.
In the second half, everything changed.
In an unbelievable comeback, Japan refused to give up, maintained possession and scored three goals, turning the match around and securing a 3–0 victory – the first in the history of the Japanese national team over Brazil’s senior side.
The Japanese goals were scored by three different players: Takumi Minamino, seven minutes into the second half; Keito Nakamura, ten minutes later; and Ayase Ueda, in the 26th minute, completing the comeback.
The defeat was a bitter blow for Brazilian fans, but the context also helps to explain the result.
Ancelotti was clearly in an experimental phase, making changes to the line-up and assessing options for the tournament. Furthermore, individual errors had a direct impact on the score: a misplaced pass by Cruzeiro defender Fabrício Bruno ultimately led to Minamino’s goal, and Nakamura’s shot deflected off the defender himself before going in. The performance ultimately damaged his chances of being called up for the World Cup, from which he was left out. As for Japan’s third goal, Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza was also criticised for failing to save Ueda’s header – a moment that may have contributed to his omission from the final World Cup squad.
Even so, Ancelotti viewed the match as an important lesson for the national team: “What we need to assess is the team’s reaction after the first mistake, which wasn’t good because we lost a bit of our balance on the pitch. It’s a good lesson for the future. It’s a process, and at the World Cup we need to maintain our balance.” (ESPN)
The next chapter: Houston, 2026
So, where does all this leave us ahead of Monday’s clash between Brazil and Japan in Houston?
Well, despite Japan’s victory late last year, it’s safe to say they go into the match with less pressure on their shoulders than Brazil.
The Seleção are currently ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings, whilst Japan – the highest-ranked Asian side – sit in 17th place.
The Brazilian squad features seven players who have previously been nominated for the ‘Ballon d'Or’: Alisson, Marquinhos, Casemiro, Fabinho, Neymar, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior. At the helm is Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most successful managers of the modern era and winner of the Johan Cruyff Trophy in 2024.
Throughout history, Brazil has always had a strong presence at the awards. The country has produced four winners of the ‘Ballon d'Or’: Ronaldo (1997 and 2002), Rivaldo (1999), Ronaldinho (2005) and Kaká (2007).
In contrast, the current Japanese squad does not feature any players nominated for the award. In total, only two Japanese players have ever been nominated for the award: Hidetoshi Nakata (1998, 1999 and 2001) and Shunsuke Nakamura (2007).
Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup history, with five titles, whilst Japan, despite having participated regularly since 1998, has never progressed beyond the round of 16.
The two sides have met 14 times: Brazil have won 11, drawn two and lost just one – last year’s match, in fact – scoring 37 goals and conceding only eight.
Of those 37 goals, nine were scored by Neymar, who, at 34, remains one of the national team’s key attacking players and will be looking to add to that tally against Japan.
But it would be a mistake to underestimate Japan.
The nation has come a long way in recent decades and has now established itself as the leading force in Asian football, as well as being an increasingly competitive side on the world stage.
In the Asian qualifiers, Japan were the first country to secure a place at the World Cup, back in March last year, dominating the competition with authority. Brazil, on the other hand, struggled in the South American qualifiers and only secured their place in June, finishing in fifth place – behind Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay.
At the last World Cup, despite another elimination in the round of 16, Hajime Moriyasu’s side secured impressive victories in the group stage against two European powerhouses, Spain and Germany.
They simply cannot be underestimated.
Looking at the two teams’ campaigns in this World Cup so far, there are some important similarities.
Although Brazil have recorded two wins and a draw, and Japan one win and two draws, neither side have lost in the group stage.
Both have also scored seven goals in those matches, although Japan have conceded three, compared to just one for Brazil.
In terms of attacking output, Brazil had more shots: 41 in total, with 19 on target (46 per cent). Japan had 29 shots, 11 of which were on target (38 per cent).
The most encouraging statistic for Japanese fans, however, is the distribution of goals. All seven of Brazil’s goals were scored by just two players: Vinícius Júnior, of Real Madrid and a four-time nominee for the Ballon d'Or, who scored four, and Matheus Cunha, of Manchester United, who scored three. The assists were shared amongst four different players. Japan’s seven goals, meanwhile, were scored by five different players: Ayase Ueda and Daichi Kamada with two each, alongside Daizen Maeda, Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura with one each. And each of the seven goals was set up by a different player. This suggests a more collective and unpredictable attack, whilst Brazil appear more reliant on their key attacking players.
In other respects, the figures are quite similar.
Neither team has had clear dominance in possession so far in the World Cup: Brazil averages 54 per cent, and Japan 51 per cent. Passing accuracy is also high for both sides, at 89 per cent for Brazil and 86 per cent for Japan. In ground duels, the balance remains: 51 per cent success rate for Brazil and 48 per cent for Japan.
A notable difference, however, emerges in aerial duels: Brazil win 69%, whilst Japan win just 35%.
Everything points to a very evenly matched and tense encounter on the pitch.
But off the pitch, we may well see something that has become a tradition in this relationship: respect and friendship between Brazilians and Japanese, both on and off the football pitch.
After all, the largest population of people of Japanese descent outside Japan lives in Brazil – around 2.5 million people, a legacy of Japanese immigration that began to arrive in the South American country in the early 20th century following the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation signed in 1895.
Since then, the two countries have forged strong ties, which extended to football in the 1990s with the arrival of Zico and the subsequent influx of Brazilian talent into the country. Several Brazilian-born players have even represented the Japanese national team, such as Ruy Ramos, Marcus Túlio Tanaka, Wagner Lopes and Alessandro Santos.
Today, there is a statue of Zico – who still works as technical director at Kashima Antlers – at the club’s stadium. Japan’s manager, Hajime Moriyasu, a former J. League player, cannot hide his admiration for the Brazilian: “He led us to the point where we could compete in the World Cup. He gave so much to Japan.” (CNN Brasil)
Zico, for his part, also speaks highly of Moriyasu’s work and recognises him as one of the great managers in modern football. When asked whether his long-standing connection with Japan would influence his decision on who to support on Monday, however, he left no room for doubt: “I’ll be supporting Brazil – I’m Brazilian, for goodness’ sake! Now, if Japan win, so be it. What I’m sure of is that it’ll be a great match, because the Japanese team really know how to play the game.” (FIFA)
