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Brazil faces Japan in World Cup 2026 knockout round
Brazil and Japan meet in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, 29 June. The match kicks off at 14:00 Brasília time (09:00 ET) at NRG Stadium in Houston, United States. Brazil entered the knockout stage unbeaten, topping Group C with seven points, while Japan qualified as runners‑up of Group F.
Historically Brazil has dominated the head‑to‑head, recording 11 wins, two draws and one loss in 14 meetings, although Japan won the most recent friendly 3‑2 in Tokyo. The encounter also highlights cultural links – Brazil is home to the largest Japanese diaspora outside Japan, with nearly two million people of Japanese descent. Social media has reacted with memes such as “Neyruto” blending Neymar with the anime character Naruto.
Other round‑of‑32 fixtures on the same day include Netherlands versus Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico, and Germany versus Paraguay in Boston, USA. Betting markets and analysis pieces have offered odds and predictions for all three matches.