Brazil snatch 95th-minute win over Japan and reach the World Cup 2026 Round of 16

Brazil have reached the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic playoff victory over Japan.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side trailed during the match but managed to complete a comeback and snatch a 2-1 win in stoppage time.

Japan opened the scoring after a quick counterattack. Kaishu Sano intercepted a poor pass from Danilo, drove forward and fired a low shot from outside the box past Alisson. It was the midfielder’s first goal for the national team.

After conceding, Brazil increased the pressure and eventually got their reward in the second half. Casemiro joined the attack, rose at the far post and headed the ball past Suzuki to level the score.

The decisive moment came in the 95th minute. Rayan won the ball in a dangerous area and found Bruno Guimaraes, who threaded a superb pass into Gabriel Martinelli. The forward kept his composure and struck low, with the ball touching Suzuki’s fingers, hitting the right post and going into the net.

For Bruno Guimaraes, it was already his fourth assist of the tournament. The Brazil midfielder leads the assist chart at the World Cup.

In the Round of 16, Brazil will face the winner of the Ivory Coast vs Norway match.

World Cup 2026, Round of 32
Brazil 2-1 Japan
Goals: Casemiro, Martinelli — Sano.