The 2026 World Cup Round of 16 knockout match was held at NRG Stadium in Houston. Japan took the lead through Kaede Sano's counterattack in the 29th minute, while Brazil completed a second-half comeback to win 2-1 and advance to the quarter-finals.
Nearly 69,000 spectators witnessed this back-and-forth contest. In the first half, Brazil held nearly 70% possession and led 8-4 in shots, yet their expected goals stood at just 0.35. Japan converted their limited chances more efficiently to take the lead.
Halftime Adjustments Opened the Game
Ancelotti replaced Lucas Paquetá with Endrick at halftime, aiming to increase pressing and pace in attack. The change paid off immediately: in the 56th minute, Gabriel Magalhães played a through ball, and Casemiro followed up to equalize. For the 38-year-old Casemiro, the goal once again demonstrated his scoring instinct and reading of the game at crucial moments.
In the second half, Brazil created four clear-cut chances, with Vinícius Júnior also hitting the post. The team completed 676 passes at a 92% success rate, with 19 shots and 7 on target across the match, and expected goals of 1.69 to 0.23, maintaining dominance throughout.
Professional Opportunities on the Bench
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Bruno Guimarães delivered a crucial cross, and substitute Gabriel Martinelli arrived to finish, sealing a 2-1 victory. For Martinelli, this winning goal was an important moment to prove his worth on the World Cup stage; for Japan, despite still being second best in ground duels and ball retention, Kaishu Sano's goal also showed the team's ability to seize opportunities against top sides.
After this match, Brazil continued to push toward greater goals at the World Cup.
