Brazil lead Group C, Japan second in Group F after two matches. If positions hold at group stage end, teams meet in round of 16. Also, Group C runner-up faces Group F winner.
"Early meeting causes mixed reactions among Brazilian fans," article in leading Brazilian sports outlet Globo Esporte states. "Many show respect, worry, even admiration for growth of Japanese football."
Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka (blue) battles Brazil's Matheus Cunha in Japan's 3-2 win over Brazil, Kirin Challenge Cup friendly, Tokyo Stadium, Japan, Oct 14, 2025. Photo: AFP
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Reaction follows Japan's strong start at World Cup 2026. They equalized twice to draw Netherlands 2-2, then beat Tunisia 4-0—biggest win for Asian team in tournament history. Team unbeaten in 9 straight matches (7 wins), including friendly wins over Brazil (3-2) and England (1-0) this summer.
Sincerao—popular Brazilian sports page with 435,000 followers on X—says Japan's performance causes mixed feelings. "Do not want Brazil to face Japan. Not about matchup, just do not want to play them now, nor see them exit in round of 16," account posted.
Pundit Richarlyson impressed by Japan's hunger for goals against Tunisia despite leading by four, still pressing in 85th minute. "Impressed, then scared," he said on TV Globo. "If Brazil face Japan in round of 16, Carlo Ancelotti's team must play much better than first two matches."
In tournament, Brazil drew Morocco 1-1, then beat Haiti 3-0. Head-to-head history favors Brazil (11 wins, 2 draws), before 3-2 loss in Kirin Challenge Cup friendly, October 2025. Teams met in 2006 World Cup group stage, South Americans winning 4-1.
On Globo Esporte, former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (led Brazil to 2002 World Cup title) says Japan or Netherlands have traits to counter Brazil. He said: "Very worried. Not sure if individual skills of Brazilian players can overcome organized strength of these two opponents."
Brazil's UOL highlights Japan's "good organization," noting fourth-lowest average team running distance in tournament and zero cards. Also, Japan missing key players but still playing well, balanced in attack and defense.
"Japan's greatest strength is intensity, focusing tactics on pressing opponent ball-carrier," UOL article states. "Tight marking, ready to chase to the end. Organization without ball is team's trump card."
Japan never reached World Cup quarterfinals since debut in 1998. However, Hajime Moriyasu's team aims to win title, claiming no fear of any opponent. They target big win against Sweden in final group match on June 26 to pass Netherlands for top spot in Group F, gaining advantage of familiarity with Monterrey stadium for round of 16.
Brazil face Scotland on June 25. Need big win to secure top spot in Group C over Morocco, who play weakest team Haiti. Ancelotti's team aims for Brazil's sixth World Cup title.
Poll
**90,583** votes
Who will win World Cup 2026?
Argentina 18% 15,988 votes
France 17% 14,990 votes
Spain 14% 12,771 votes
Portugal 12% 10,915 votes
Germany 6% 5,583 votes
Brazil 14% 12,451 votes
England 14% 12,590 votes
Other team 6% 5,295 votes
Time: 8/5/2026 - 22/6/2026 Fixtures - Results World Cup 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Group C
[Brazil
1 - 1
First half: 1-1
Morocco
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1489371/brazil-morocco)
Finished
Monday, June 15, 2026
Group F
[Netherlands
2 - 2
First half: 0-0
Japan
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1489376/ha-lan-nhat-ban)
Finished
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Group C
[Brazil
3 - 0
First half: 3-0
Haiti
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1489389/brazil-haiti)
Finished
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Group F
[Tunisia
0 - 4
First half: 0-2
Japan
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1489394/tunisia-nhat-ban)
Finished
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Group C
[Scotland
18 : 00
Brazil
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1489406/scotland-brazil)
[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1489406/scotland-brazil)
Friday, June 26, 2026
Group F
[Japan
19 : 00
Sweden
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1539011/nhat-ban-thuy-dien)
[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1539011/nhat-ban-thuy-dien)
World Cup 2026 Standings
Group F Played +/- Points [1
Mexico](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/mexico-16)
2
3
**6**[2
South Korea](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/han-quoc-17)
2
0
**3**[3
Czech Republic](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ch-czech-770)
2
-1
**1**[4
South Africa](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/nam-phi-1531)
2
-2
**1**[1
Canada](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/canada-5529)
2
6
**4**[2
Switzerland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-si-15)
2
3
**4**[3
Bosnia & Herz.](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bosnia-herz-1113)
2
-3
**1**[4
Qatar](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/qatar-1569)
2
-6
**1**[1
Brazil](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/brazil-6)
2
3
**4**[2
Morocco](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/morocco-31)
2
1
**4**[3
Scotland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/scotland-1108)
2
0
**3**[4
Haiti](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/haiti-2386)
2
-4
**0**[1
USA](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/my-2384)
2
5
**6**[2
Australia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/australia-20)
2
0
**3**[3
Paraguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/paraguay-2380)
2
-2
**3**[4
Turkey](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tho-nhi-ky-777)
2
-3
**0**[1
Germany](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/duc-25)
2
7
**6**[2
Ivory Coast](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bo-bien-nga-1501)
2
0
**3**[3
Ecuador](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ecuador-2382)
2
-1
**1**[4
Curaçao](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/curacao-5530)
2
-6
**1**[1
Netherlands](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ha-lan-1118)
2
4
**4**[2
Japan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/nhat-ban-12)
2
4
**4**[3
Sweden](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-dien-5)
2
0
**3**[4
Tunisia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tunisia-28)
2
-8
**0**[1
Egypt](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ai-cap-32)
2
2
**4**[2
Iran](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/iran-22)
2
0
**2**[3
Belgium](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bi-1)
2
0
**2**[4
New Zealand](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/new-zealand-4673)
2
-2
**1**[1
Spain](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tay-ban-nha-9)
2
4
**4**[2
Uruguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/uruguay-7)
2
0
**2**[3
Cape Verde](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/cape-verde-1533)
2
0
**2**[4
Saudi Arabia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/saudi-arabia-23)
2
-4
**1**[1
France](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/phap-2)
2
5
**6**[2
Norway](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/na-uy-1090)
2
4
**6**[3
Senegal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/senegal-13)
2
-3
**0**[4
Iraq](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/iraq-1567)
2
-6
**0**[1
Argentina](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/argentina-26)
2
5
**6**[2
Austria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ao-775)
2
0
**3**[3
Algeria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/algeria-1532)
2
-2
**3**[4
Jordan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/jordan-1548)
2
-3
**0**[1
Portugal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bo-dao-nha-27)
2
5
**4**[2
Colombia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/colombia-8)
1
2
**3**[3
DR Congo](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/chdc-congo-1508)
1
0
**1**[4
Uzbekistan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/uzbekistan-1568)
2
-7
**0**[1
England](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/anh-10)
2
2
**4**[2
Ghana](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ghana-1504)
2
1
**4**[3
Panama](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/panama-11)
1
-1
**0**[4
Croatia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/croatia-3)
1
-2
**0**[1
Sweden](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-dien-5)
2
0
**3**[2
Scotland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/scotland-1108)
2
0
**3**[3
Algeria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/algeria-1532) 2 -2 3[4
Paraguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/paraguay-2380)
2
-2
**3**[5
Cape Verde](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/cape-verde-1533)
2
0
**2**[6
Belgium](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bi-1)
2
0
**2**[7
DR Congo](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/chdc-congo-1508)
1
0
**1**[8
Czech Republic](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ch-czech-770)
2
-1
**1**[9
Ecuador](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ecuador-2382)
2
-1
**1**[10
Bosnia & Herz.](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bosnia-herz-1113)
2
-3
**1**[11
Panama](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/panama-11)
1
-1
**0**[12
Senegal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/senegal-13)
2
-3
**0**
Champion Best player Top scorer
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