Japan faces Brazil in World Cup knockout, echoing 45‑year‑old manga prophecy

Japan qualified for the World Cup round of 32 as the runner‑up of Group F after drawing 1‑1 with Sweden, beating Tunisia 4‑0 and sharing points with the Netherlands. The team, unbeaten in the group stage with seven goals scored, will meet five‑time champion Brazil on June 29 in Houston.

The matchup recalls the 1981 manga *Captain Tsubasa*, in which creator Yoichi Takahashi imagined a young Japanese player striving to defeat Brazil, the symbolic football powerhouse. The story has influenced generations of players worldwide, and the real‑life encounter is seen by many as a fulfillment of that fictional narrative.