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Brazil edge Japan 2-1
Brazil reached the World Cup last 16 after Gabriel Martinelli scored late in injury time to give the five-time champions a 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32 in Houston.
“Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner late in injury time to give five-time champions Brazil a 2-1 win over Japan”
Martinelli, who came on as a second-half substitute, struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time as the match on Monday appeared to be heading to extra time.
Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead after 29 minutes, before Casemiro equalised with a header in the 56th minute off an assist from Gabriel Magalhaes.
Brazil will next face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the round of 16.
The win was Brazil’s 12th in 15 games against Japan, and Japan have never won a World Cup knockout match.
Martinelli’s quote and Ancelotti
After the match, Martinelli said, "I can’t explain how I feel," adding, "Thank God I managed to score the goal today."
Japan’s Kaishu Sano had opened the scoring after 29 minutes, but Casemiro levelled in the 56th minute with a header from a Gabriel Magalhaes cross.
Carlo Ancelotti said, "We didn't lose our patience, we had a lot of resources on the pitch and on the bench," describing Japan as "very organised and intense."
Ancelotti also explained his approach to Neymar, saying, "I was saving Neymar for extra-time."
Brazil’s late winner came when Bruno Guimaraes slipped a pass through to Martinelli, who finished to deny Japan a first-ever World Cup knockout win.
Last 16 set and stakes
With Brazil’s 2-1 win, Japan exited the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their defeat by Brazil in the Round of 32 in Houston.
“Japan has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their defeat by Brazil in the Round of 32”
The result means Brazil will advance to the round of 16 and prepare for a fixture against the winner of the Ivory Coast versus Norway tie.
In the match, Brazil’s second-half dominance was reflected in expected goals, with Brazil finishing with 1.72 to Japan's 0.23.
The Whistler Newspaper said Brazil booked their place in the Round of 16 after Martinelli struck a stoppage-time winner to defeat Japan 2-1.
France 24 reported that the five-time champions will face either the Ivory Coast or Norway in New Jersey on Sunday after edging the knockout encounter.