Brazil 2-1 Japan: Casemiro scores after halftime as Brazil advance

In the 2026 World Cup round of 32, Brazil defeated Japan 2-1. Japan broke the deadlock in the 29th minute through K. Sano and went into the interval leading 1-0.

Both sides had players booked early in the match: K. Sano received a yellow card in the 12th minute, and Casemiro was booked in the 14th. In the 45th minute, Daichi Kamada picked up another yellow for Japan.

After the break, Brazil equalised in the 56th minute when Casemiro scored from a Gabriel assist. Earlier, Danilo had been shown a yellow card in the 48th minute. The match then continued before finishing 2-1 to Brazil.

On the numbers, Brazil had 69% possession to Japan’s 31%. Brazil posted 1.69 expected goals (xG) compared with Japan’s 0.23, and outshot Japan 19-5 with 7 shots on target to 2. Brazil also recorded a 92% pass completion rate, against Japan’s 83%; they won 6 corners to 2, were caught offside once to Japan’s none, made 1 save to Japan’s 4, and committed 4 fouls to Japan’s 13.

In the previous round of fixtures, Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 in group stage round 3, while Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden in group stage round 3.