Houston (AFP) – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says his team’s collective spirit can help them reach the last 16 of the World Cup when they take on Brazil in Houston on Monday.
Released: 06/28/2026 – 23:18
1 min. Reading time
Considered the dark horses in North America, Japan finished second to the Netherlands in their group with one win and two draws.
Ahead of the knockout match against the five-time World Cup winners, Moriyasu praised his team’s mentality.
“All the players will do their best for the team and contribute,” he said on Sunday.
“The team is united, and now this feeling is even stronger.”
Moriyasu will miss Takefusa Kubo again after the winger suffered a knee injury in the 2-2 World Cup opener against the Dutch.
Japan beat Brazil 3-2 at home in a friendly in October, but Moriyasu said Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Houston would be a different proposition.
He feels Brazil will want revenge after this defeat.
“They are a different team and they will be more motivated to play against us, they will be eager to beat us,” he said.
“We feel the match will be very tense,” he added.
“We have a chance and it will be tough… we will be at full strength.”
Japan have never advanced beyond the last 16 of the World Cup and Brazil are chasing a record sixth title.
Brazil will also have more time to recover, having completed the group stage a day ahead of their rivals.
Moriyasu acknowledged that Japan would be at a “relative disadvantage” as a result, but said that was no excuse.
Next, the winners will meet Norway or Cote d’Ivoire.
Four years ago, Japan stunned Germany and Spain in the group stage but then lost on penalties in the round of 16 to Croatia.
Brazil lost in the quarter-finals to Croatia, also on penalties.
© 2026 AFP