Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 32 – Brazil v Japan – Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas, U.S. – June 29, 2026 Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring their second goal with Vinicius Junior REUTERS/Phil Noble
Gabriel Martinelli sent Brazil into the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and broke Japanese hearts with his winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, sealing a 2-1 victory on Monday afternoon in Houston.
An uncharacteristic giveaway from what had been such a resolute Japan side allowed Bruno Guimaraes to slide a ball to Martinelli, the Arsenal man, who set the ball with his first touch, and snuck a left-footed effort past the hand of goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, off the right post, and in.
Brazil scored both goals in the second half to overturn what had become a shocking early Japanese advantage, thanks to Kaishu Sano’s long-range effort in the 29th minute. Casemiro, who had been one of the goats for Brazil, redeemed himself with the equalizer in the 56th minute before Martinelli’s winner.
The curse for Japan continues, as the Asian powers have never won a knockout-stage game at a World Cup. Meanwhile, Brazil avoids one of its more famous embarrassments, considering they reached the quarterfinals in each of the last eight World Cups.
Brazil will play the winner of Norway and the Ivory Coast at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on July 5.
The Japanese defense began to bend at the 50th minute. A header by Bruno Guimaraes was turned away well by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki before a wild scramble in front off a Casemiro header that hit defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who did not know much about it, on the line before Suzuki smacked it away.
Brazil struck paydirt in the 56th minute when Gabriel found Casemiro at the right of the penalty area — the Manchester United midfielder thundered the equalizer home on his 90th cap with the Samba Kings.
Vinicius nearly put Brazil ahead in the 58th minute when he dissected the Japanese defense, worked his way into the left side of the box, and poked a right-footed effort with the outside of his boot toward the right post, but Suzuki put a brilliant, vital touch on the shot with his left hand to redirect it off the post and keep it out.
Brazil had to play catch-up in part due to a Casemiro gaffe. After a poor pass from Danilo was picked off, Sano was allowed to run toward the Brazilian box and, with Casemiro continuing to back off him, sent a low shot from 25 yards out past the outstretched Alisson and inside the left post to put Japan ahead.
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