Vinicius Junior of Brazil celebrates scoring his second goal in the World Cup match against Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
Brazil and Japan are two countries connected by migration… and the love of football.
On the other hand, the level of the respective teams in the sport could not be more unequal throughout history. The Japanese believe it may be time to change the situation at the World Cup.
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The Brazilians, who finished top of Group C, are five-time world champions but face tough opposition who have risen to 17th in the FIFA world rankings. The Japanese finished second in Group F with one win and two draws, including against the Netherlands.
“We will need a lot: the right mentality, courage and a clear game plan,” said Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s Italian coach. “We have to be prepared for anything that can happen in a draw.”
The match, scheduled for noon in Houston, opens the second day of the 32-match tour, a round added to this World Cup expanded to 48 teams.
Also on Monday’s schedule is a duel between Group E leaders Germany and Paraguay, which progressed to the next phase despite a disastrous debut in which it was beaten 4-1 by the American hosts before beating Turkey and drawing with Australia to finish third in Group D.
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Closing the day is a duel between teams in the top ten of the world rankings. The Netherlands meet Morocco.
Holland is often considered the best country to never win the World Cup, while Morocco has moved into football’s elite in recent years after a surprise run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Brazil Japan, 17:00 GMT in Houston.
There are approximately 2.7 million people of Japanese descent living in Brazil. This is the largest Japanese population outside of Japan.
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Those ties extend to soccer, with Brazilian superstar Zico moving to Japan in 1991 to play for the Kashima Antlers and help build Japan’s professional soccer circuit. He coached the Japanese national team from 2002 to 2006, leading the team to the World Cup in its second year in Germany.
It was at that World Cup that these teams had their first and only confrontation in the tournament. Brazil won 4-1.
Canarinha leads the overall series with 11 wins. The teams drew twice and Japan recorded their first win over Brazil in a friendly in Tokyo in October. Japan trailed 2-0 at half-time before rallying to win 3-2.
A close precedent: Japan beat Brazil for the first time, 3-2, in a friendly last October in Tokyo.
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“It was a good experience for us, it showed that Japan has a competitive team, one of the best in the world,” Ancelotti said. “They beat England in March and we have absolute respect for them. We are preparing for this game as if it were a final. And this is the finale.”
Coach Hajime Moriyasu believes the win will have an impact on how Brazil face his side on Monday.
“They will be much more motivated to play against us. They are determined to beat us. That’s why we feel the game will be very tense,” he said.
Alemannia v. Paraguay, 2000 GMT, Foxboro, MA.
Germany will play a World Cup knockout match for the first time since the 2014 final in Brazil, when they beat Argentina 1-0 to claim their fourth title.
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This illustrates the difficulties that the German team endured after that exploit at the Maracanã.
After two premature exits at the World Cup, Germany’s current aspirations are built on the youthful courage of coach Julian Nagelsmann. At 38 years and 341 days, he will become the youngest coach in the direct elimination round since Frenchman Henri Michel in 1986.
Paraguay played five games in the direct relegation phase, but failed to score in any of them. They advanced only once in these matches, winning on penalties against Japan in the round of 16 in 2010 under Argentine Gerardo “Tata” Martino.
Paraguay are expected to be without defender Omar Alderete, who is questionable with a knee injury suffered in the second half of the 0-0 draw with Australia. Jose Canale is expected to start in his place.
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“It will be a game of details,” predicted Paraguayan captain Gustavo Gomez. “We have to be focused on competing and taking advantage of every opportunity we have.”
The surviving team will meet the winner of the France-Sweden duel. This meeting will take place on July 4 in Philadelphia, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
Netherlands vs Morocco, 0100 GMT, Monterrey, Mexico.
The Netherlands face a tough round of 16 tie in their quest for a first world title.
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The team of Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten reached the final three times and lost each time, most recently to Spain in extra time in 2010.
The Netherlands top Group F after a draw with Japan and convincing wins over Sweden and Tunisia. The Dutch have not lost to African teams in six previous World Cup matches.
Morocco finished second in Group C. The Atlas Lions played a superb game, drawing 1-1 with Brazil on their debut before beating Scotland and Haiti.
The winner will face Canada in the round of 16 on July 4 in Houston.
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AP writers Greg Beacham, Kristi Richen and Eric Nunez contributed to this report.
See more AP World Cup coverage here.
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