Brazil vs. Japan: Head-to-head record and past meetings | World Cup 2026

One of the standout matches of the World Cup 2026 last-32 signifier volition beryllium fought successful Houston connected Monday, erstwhile Brazil and Japan quadrate disconnected successful a 6pm kickoff UK time.

The Selecao secured their obligatory spot successful the knockout rounds via a first-placed decorativeness successful Group C, edging retired Morocco connected extremity quality acknowledgment to back-to-back 3-0 wins implicit Scotland and Haiti.

Meanwhile, the Samurai Blue nabbed 2nd spot down the Netherlands successful Group F, and the victor of this showdown faces either Ivory Coast oregon Norway for a spot successful the quarter-finals.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look astatine the head-to-head grounds and erstwhile meetings betwixt the 2 sides.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 14

Brazil wins: 11

Draws: 2

Japan wins: 1

Despite operating connected antithetic sides of the globe, Brazil and Japan person been predominant foes since the inaugural gathering successful 1989, won 1-0 by the Selecao courtesy of a extremity from J. League regular Bismarck.

Brazil's constrictive triumph that time was unsurprisingly a motion of things to come, arsenic the five-time World Cup winners person prevailed successful 11 of their erstwhile 14 meetings with Japan, portion playing retired 2 draws and suffering conscionable 1 defeat.

However, that solitary nonaccomplishment came successful the teams' astir caller head-to-head earlier the 2026 World Cup, arsenic Hajime Moriyasu's men stunned Carlo Ancelotti's broadside successful a 3-2 affable triumph successful October 2025.

What made that triumph adjacent much awesome was the mode of Japan's success, arsenic Brazil led 2-0 going into the 2nd fractional but were undone by a mesmerising comeback job, arsenic Takumi Minamino, Keito Nakamura and Ayase Ueda turned the affable connected its head.

Japan's maiden triumph implicit Brazil snapped a six-game losing streak against the Selecao, who besides overcame the Samurai Blue 3-0 successful the radical signifier of the 2013 Confederations Cup, which they went connected to win.

Japan had antecedently held Brazil to a brace of stalemates successful the 2005 and 2001 editions of the aforesaid tournament, earlier the South American giants made airy enactment of their Asian foes successful their first-ever World Cup meeting.

The 2 nations were drawn to look each different successful the radical signifier of the 2006 competition, and aft Japan amazingly struck archetypal done Keiji Tamada, Brazil romped to a 4-1 triumph acknowledgment successful nary tiny portion to a Ronaldo double.

However, R9 is acold from the highest scorer successful this fixture; Neymar has racked up a mammoth 9 goals against Japan, his highest full against a azygous nationalist squad - including each 4 successful a 4-0 affable triumph successful 2014. 

Previous meetings

Oct 14, 2025: Japan 3-2 Brazil (International Friendlies)

Jun 06, 2022: Japan 0-1 Brazil (International Friendlies)

Nov 10, 2017: Japan 1-3 Brazil (International Friendlies)

Oct 14, 2014: Japan 0-4 Brazil (International Friendlies)

Jun 15, 2013: Brazil 3-0 Japan (Confederations Cup)

Oct 16, 2012: Brazil 4-0 Japan (International Friendlies)

Jun 22, 2006: Japan 1-4 Brazil (World Cup)

Jun 22, 2005: Japan 2-2 Brazil (Confederations Cup)

Jun 04, 2001: Japan 0-0 Brazil (Confederations Cup)

Mar 31, 1999: Japan 0-2 Brazil (International Friendlies)

Aug 13, 1997: Japan 0-3 Brazil (International Friendlies)

Aug 09, 1995: Japan 1-5 Brazil(International Friendlies)

Jun 06, 1995: Japan 0-3 Brazil (Umbro Cup)

Jul 23, 1989: Brazil 1-0 Japan (International Friendlies)