Brazil vs Japan Official Lineups, Monday, 29 June 2026, World Cup Round of 32
Here are the official starting lineups for Brazil and Japan in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, taking place on Monday, June 29, 2026, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. This thrilling knockout match features Carlo Ancelotti’s Group C champions going up against the formidable and unbeaten Japan.
✅ How did they make it to the World Cup Round of 32?
Brazil: Finished at the top of Group C with 7 points (1-1 draw against Morocco, 3-0 victory over Haiti, 3-0 win against Scotland). Vinícius Júnior has been the standout player, netting four goals in the tournament.
Japan: Progressed as the runners-up in Group F with 5 points, remaining unbeaten after a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands and a commanding 4-0 victory over Tunisia.
✅ Head-to-Head
The two teams have faced each other 14 times. Brazil has emerged victorious in 11 of those matches, with two draws and just one loss. In their most recent encounter, Japan stunned Brazil with a 3-2 win in a friendly match in Tokyo in October 2025, coming back from a two-goal deficit. In their previous World Cup meeting, Brazil triumphed 4-1 during the group stage of the 2006 tournament in Germany.
✅ 2 Serie A players called up for 🇧🇷 Brazil National team for the World Cup 2026:
- Juventus defender Gleison Bremer
- Atalanta midfielder Éderson
👉 Serie A players called up for 🇯🇵 the Japan National team:
- Parma goalkeeper Aya Suzuki
👉 Click here for Full 2026 World Cup Squad Lists – Confirmed rosters for all 48 teams.
👉 Click here for 2026 World Cup Group Stage Standings.
🇧🇷 Brazil starting lineup (4-3-3): Alisson Becker, Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos, Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Lucas Paquetá, Rayan, Matheus Cunha, Vinícius Júnior
Substitutes: Éderson Silva, Fabinho, Ederson, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, Roger Ibañez, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Danilo Santos, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, Bremer, Neymar, Weverton
🇯🇵 Japan starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Zion Suzuki, Hiroki Ito, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Shogo Taniguchi, Daichi Kamada, Keito Nakamura, Ritsu Doan, Kaishu Sano, Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda, Junya Ito
Substitutes: Keisuke Osako, Shuto Machino, Ko Itakura, Ayumu Seko, Kento Shiogai, Keisuke Goto, Koki Ogawa, Yukinari Sugawara, Junnosuke Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Ao Tanaka, Yuito Suzuki, Takefusa Kubo, Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoki Hayakawa
Starting lineups
Substitutes
Brazil World Cup 2026 Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)
- Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (PSG).
- Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ahli), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo), Éderson (Atalanta.)
- Forwards: Endrick (Lyon/Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid).
Note: Last-minute change. On June 7, Atalanta’s midfielder Éderson was selected for Brazil’s World Cup team by manager Carlo Ancelotti, stepping in for the injured AS Roma right-back Wesley. Wesley is unable to participate in the tournament because of a left thigh adductor injury, which has opened the door for the 26-year-old Éderson to join the squad.
Japan:
- Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Aya Suzuki (Parma).
- Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre AC), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junosuke Suzuki (FC Copenhagen).
- Midfielders: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad).
- Forwards: Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Ito Suzuki (SC Freiburg), Kento Shiode (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden).
Brazil official starting lineup against Japan
Photo via x.com/CBF_Futebol
Japan official starting lineup against Brazil
Photo via x.com/jfa_samuraiblue
Japan and Parma goalkeeper Ayaka Suzuki
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World Cup Group Round of 32
🇧🇷 Brazil – Japan 🇯🇵
Date & Time: Monday, June 29, 2026, at 7:00 PM local time (CT)
Venue: NRG Stadium,
Houston, Texas, USA
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Sandro Schärer SUI
Reserve AR: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Joe Dickerson USA