Brazil - Japan / 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Brazil vs. Japan Round of 16 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, kicks off at 7:00 PM.

Monday evening brings an enticing knockout stage clash to Houston, Texas, as favored Brazil takes on the unpredictable and tactically astute Japan. The "Canarinha" last celebrated a World Cup title 24 years ago, coming closest to repeating that feat in 2014 when they reached the semi-finals on home soil.

Their journey to this championship, however, was far from smooth. Brazil unexpectedly struggled in qualification for an extended period, leading to the departure of two coaches before Carlo Ancelotti took the helm a year ago. His tactical imprint was immediately evident. Although a final qualifying loss to Bolivia (0-1) dropped the team three places in the standings, they fine-tuned their form in pre-tournament preparations, despite stumbling against Japan (2-3) in the autumn and France (1-2) in the spring.

Before the tournament proper, they kicked off with three victories. While a 1-1 draw against a strong Morocco initially caught them off guard at the start of the championship, they adjusted their playing system after the first break and dominated unequivocally. This was followed by convincing 3-0 triumphs over Haiti and Scotland, securing their group win. The only significant setback is Raphinha's injury, making his participation in the match highly unlikely.

The footballers from the "Land of the Rising Sun" continue to prove their world-class status, reaching the knockout stages for the third consecutive time. However, in their four previous attempts at the Round of 16, they have never managed to advance further. Eight years ago, Belgium cruelly stopped them with a goal in the 94th minute, and most recently, Croatia eliminated them after a penalty shootout.

In the current tournament, they have once again delivered excellent performances, surprising many with an opening 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. After a dominant 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia, a final 1-1 draw with Sweden was enough to secure their progression from second place, even though their opponents put them under considerable pressure after the break. However, the Asian squad must contend with losses – creative midfielder Takefusa Kubo was sidelined with an injury in the very first match, and defensive stalwart Ko Itakura also picked up an injury recently, though he is expected to play through the pain.

Brazil dominated the first four historical encounters between the two nations, but in the autumn of 2025, a historic upset occurred when Japan shocked the South Americans with a 3-2 victory in a home friendly. This result serves as a perfect warning for Ancelotti's squad, but also as immense motivation for revenge.

Given the immense attacking power on both sides and Japan's ability to punish favorites on quick counter-attacks, goals should be plentiful in the Houston Round of 16 clash.