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29 June 2026 88 comments
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The first of the day’s Round of 32 matches takes place in Houston, and it’s an intriguing-looking clash we’ve got in store: Brazil v Japan.

Kick-off is at 18:00 BST.

The bookies unsurprisingly make Brazil the favourites, giving them approximately a 70% chance of making it through this potentially tricky encounter.

But the Blue Samurai emerged from their group undefeated, and indeed haven’t lost a game since last September. They’ve even defeated the Selecao in that time, winning 3-2 back in October.

TEAM NEWS

The team news is straightforward for Brazil, as Carlo Ancelotti keeps the same starting XI that beat Scotland 3-0.

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu does make alterations, however.

There are four changes from the 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Shogo Taniguchi come in for Ayumu Seko and Ko Itakura at the rear, while Kaishu Sano is preferred to Ao Tanaka in central midfield.

The other tweak sees Junya Ito replace Yukinari Sugawara, which presumably means Ritsu Doan moves from right wing to right wing-back.

LINE-UPS

Brazil XI: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Guimaraes, Casemiro, Paqueta; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Jr.

Japan XI: Zion Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito; Doan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Junya Ito, Maeda; Ueda.


88 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 18 mins ago

    Bruno Guimarães still at 4.9% ownership.

  2. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 15 mins ago

    Brazil XI: Allison; Danilo, Marquinhos ©, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Paqueta; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Jr

    Japan XI: Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, H. Itō; J. Ito, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Doan ©; Ueda

    Just in case....

  3. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 14 mins ago

    Lol. Ancelotti singing the Brazil anthem 😆

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 12 mins ago

    These two sides should have played yesterday’s efforts, so it would at least be a R16 game…

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 hour, 5 mins ago

      Want both teams to win this one…

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 hour, 5 mins ago

      Yeah feels like it's a round, or maybe a couple of rounds, too early for this match up.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 hour, 1 min ago

        Agreed

  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 10 mins ago

    Italy involved in the VAR team, so they made it in the end, congratulations…

  6. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    53 mins ago

    I’ll say it

    Matterface and Dixon are the worst commentary duo for a football match on mainstream TV that we’ve ever had

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      42 mins ago

      Sadly there’s a lot of competition these days - commentators used to add so much to the excitement and atmosphere of a game…no more, alas

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        38 mins ago

        Martin Tyler always talked about what is on the pitch. John Motson the same

        Tyldesley had scripted lines but it didn’t sound cringe and he was extremely enthusiastic

        Guy Mowbray is brilliant but Matterface must have dirt on the bosses at ITV. Can’t believe they sacked Tyldesley for him

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          36 mins ago

          Yep, weird decision, most likely age related…

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      41 mins ago

      Prefer Lee Dixon to Shearer tbh, though McManaman is the worst for me.

  7. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    50 mins ago

    Decent game so far, Brazil had it far too easy against Scotland so we still don't know their true quality yet.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      36 mins ago

      Didn't watch brazil vs morocco?

  8. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    45 mins ago

    Similar game to yday. Brazil like canada trying, japan like south africa defending. Little bit difference in quality of course

  9. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    45 mins ago

    Ronaldinho is such a gangsta, absolute legend of the game…

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      36 mins ago

      Always made me smile, when watching him play.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        35 mins ago

        Even when strolling around, was awesome….

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      36 mins ago

      Endless aura

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        34 mins ago

        Farms it for free….

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    43 mins ago

    25mins re-coaching break…

  11. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    39 mins ago

    Great goal Japan….get it

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      33 mins ago

      Casemiro legs stuck in mud…

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      32 mins ago

      Well struck from the DMF

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        29 mins ago

        Perfect placement…

  12. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    39 mins ago

    Let's go Japan!!!!!!!!!

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      32 mins ago

      Not gonna happen, but if Japan won this WC, I’d be delighted….

  13. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    39 mins ago

    Sano the main super star

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      31 mins ago

      Mainz*

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      29 mins ago

      Which club does he play for?

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        8 mins ago

        DMF for Mainz

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          just now

          Just read that is his 1st ever international goal! What a time to get it

  14. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    39 mins ago

    What a finish!

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      24 mins ago

      He’s lucky to be on the pitch 😆

      Casemiro has gone back to his Ten Hag second season form

  15. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    38 mins ago

    First blood to Japan

  16. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    38 mins ago

    Haha go japan!

  17. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    36 mins ago

    Japan should just run everything at/through Casemiro until he gets sent off…

  18. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    36 mins ago

    Some of Ancelotti’s choices in this squad are strange

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      21 mins ago

      Who do u want? Ronaldo 9, ronaldinho, romario?

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        20 mins ago

        Casemiro can’t run

        Joao Pedro is way better than Igor Thiago, Ancelotti didn’t realise that until half-time of their first match

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          8 mins ago

          Yeah j pedro would have been better than i Thiago or cunha perhaps. But no guarantee that will improve the team

  19. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    36 mins ago

    Did Santos to Dest last minute because I was afraid of this happening

  20. JBG
    • 8 Years
    34 mins ago

    Triple up on Brazil not looking so good atm

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      26 mins ago

      Which three?

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        just now

        Alisson, Vini and Bruno G

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      25 mins ago

      Qualification booster already on the ropes 😆

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        23 mins ago

        Luckily got only vinicius

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          13 mins ago

          I did a fairly last minute switch from Oyarzabal to Cunha which is so far looking like a disaster. Second half might change things. Casemiro probably needs to come off again anyway for a start

          1. karam94
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 mins ago

            Haha same but it was because of the Canadian 3.5m defender being benched

    3. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      18 mins ago

      Triple up until deadline for me.. glad I offloaded

  21. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    32 mins ago

    Gabriel & Casemiro at fault for that goal

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      23 mins ago

      Or maybe just a great strike?

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        just now

        Gabriel didn't attempt to close the gap & block the shot while Casemiro's old fibulas couldn't catch up

    2. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      5 mins ago

      Casemiro on a yellow stunted his options.

  22. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    28 mins ago

    Do something Vini!

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      25 mins ago

      I’ll happily take dropped points for a Japan win…

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        23 mins ago

        Same here. Plenty of chances to change c and sub out

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        23 mins ago

        Yeah will be exciting to captain Wirtz in the next game 😛

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          21 mins ago

          I’ll be switching to Nmecha, yikes…

          1. Thanos
            • 4 Years
            15 mins ago

            Musiala here 😆

            1. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              13 mins ago

              I have no Germans 🙁

              1. Thanos
                • 4 Years
                11 mins ago

                I got 2 😆

              2. jacob1989
                • 4 Years
                10 mins ago

                I got only kimmich.

        2. Sane here

  23. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    28 mins ago

    Brazil don’t even have Richarlison or Antony to bring on…

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      18 mins ago

      I'd forgotten about Antony (as a United fan I may have blocked him from my brain).

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        16 mins ago

        Possibly one of the worst spells at any club by any footballer ever…that spin thing he kept doing was horrific…

        1. Goro Majima
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          12 mins ago

          That spin thing was his highlights reel!

    2. Thanos
      • 4 Years
      16 mins ago

      Its Vinny or bust.

      Or Neymar time!!!

  24. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    27 mins ago

    Vinicius is really the only threatening player of brazil esp with raphinha injured. They did only finish 5th in wc qualifying which would have meant a playoff under old rules

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      19 mins ago

      Endrick meant to have flair…

  25. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    23 mins ago

    This ref has been really impressive so far.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      15 mins ago

      And VAR all tournament, how can’t they use it in the same way for PL?

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      15 mins ago

      Most refs are outside the PL..

    3. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      12 mins ago

      All refs and var have been superb. I cant remember a single major controversy. For one, no soft penalities given unlike in PL

  26. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    20 mins ago

    Japan look so well organised in defense

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      10 mins ago

      And work rate, hope they can keep it up…

  27. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    13 mins ago

    Why don't pl teams or other big teams shoot more often from distance? So many goals outside the box this wc

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      5 mins ago

      They used to, coached out of them and switch to set pieces and trying to chuck ball in the goal from throw-ins…

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 mins ago

        And too much tiki taka, trying to get perfect goal i guess

  28. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 mins ago

    Each time they replay the Sano goal, Casemiro gets left further behind lol….

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      5 mins ago

      Buy it was danilo i think with the wrong pass

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 mins ago

        Yep…

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      just now

      😆 look at those old tired legs. Gabriel also indecisive

  29. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    11 mins ago

    Wont be surprised if Thiago comes on at HT.

    Brazil need a central point to take away the attention from likes of Vinny.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 mins ago

      Endrick and Martinelli also…

  30. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    just now

    OAP off, Endrick on…