Gabriel Martinelli scored deep in injury time as Brazil defeated a stubborn Japan team 2-1 on Monday to reach the World Cup last 16.
Arsenal winger scored in the 95th minute in Houston to break Japanese hearts in the most dramatic fashion.
The five-time champions will now face either Ivory Coast or Norway in New Jersey on Sunday after a tight knockout match. Japan took the lead in the 29th minute through midfielder Kaishu Sano, who scored a brilliant solo goal after a mistake by Brazil.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team responded after halftime, with Casemiro scoring a header 11 minutes into the second half as Brazil took control. Martinelli then scored at the very end to win the match and send Brazil fans into celebration.
Japan had never won a World Cup knockout match, while Brazil are five-time champions, so history was on Brazil’s side. However, this is not considered a strong Brazil team, even with Ancelotti as coach, and Japan were seen as surprise contenders.
🇧🇷 Brazil is the Second Team which advance to 1/16 finals pic.twitter.com/kKnIouHtg5
— World Cup 2026 (@ofootball__) June 29, 2026
Brazil fans kept the atmosphere lively with drums in front of 68,777 spectators, and the team started the match strongly. Images of Neymar on the stadium screens increased the excitement among Brazil supporters. Sano was booked earlier for a hard challenge on Vinicius Junior, while Matheus Cunha tested Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki with a shot.
Japan, who had beaten Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in October, later began to play better. Just before the 30-minute mark, Japan scored after Danilo made a mistake and lost possession.
Sano picked up the ball in midfield, moved past Casemiro with ease, ran forward, and scored past Alisson. It was his first international goal. Brazil fans became nervous as their team struggled with attacking play and defensive mistakes.
Brazil looked weak in defense and ineffective in attack during the first half. At halftime, Ancelotti made a change as Lucas Paquetá came off injured and was replaced by 19-year-old Endrick.
Japan had been in control, having beaten Tunisia and drawn with the Netherlands and Sweden to reach the knockout stage. Brazil increased pressure after the break, and Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu cleared two dangerous attempts off the goal line. Brazil equalized when Gabriel crossed the ball and Casemiro headed it in at the far post.
VinÃcius Júnior then caused problems for Japan’s defense and forced goalkeeper Suzuki to push a shot onto the post. Brazil continued to attack strongly in search of a winner, with VinÃcius increasingly involved. Finally, Martinelli scored the late winning goal.
