Brazil v Japan: 2026 World Cup Prediction

Of course, we’re all eagerly awaiting the World Cup match between the Netherlands and Morocco. But the match between Brazil and Japan is also likely to be a nail-biter. Brazil is the most successful soccer nation of all time, while the Japanese have recently earned a reputation as true giant-killers. We’ll tell you more about this matchup and give you our Brazil vs. Japan prediction.

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Brazil vs. Japan Preview

Actually, it would have been better for both countries to face each other at a later stage of the 2026 World Cup. The bottom line is that either Brazil or Japan will be eliminated from the tournament as early as Monday night. Before that happens, here’s a brief look at both teams.

Current Form & Team News

Brazil

Brazil is off to an excellent start at the 2026 World Cup so far. They secured very convincing wins over Haiti and Scotland, while picking up a point against Morocco. Still, the criticism of the “Divine Canaries” has been harsh. Carlo Ancelotti’s team is anything but in sync and is giving away just a few too many chances. It’s only thanks to Vinicius Jr. that they’re still in top form. The Real Madrid left winger has now scored four times in three matches, proving his value to the team. Another boost was the return of Neymar. Can he prove himself one last time? Or is it all just faded glory?

Japan

Last Thursday evening, Japan found itself in the same boat as the Netherlands. They already knew they were advancing to the next round, but they still didn’t want to lose to Sweden. It turned out to be an interesting match, which ended in a draw. It also became clear that Japan was resting a number of key players ahead of the knockout stage. For example, Ayase Ueda, who still plays for Feyenoord, only played for just under an hour. Can he do what he does best against Brazil: score goals?

Head-to-Head

It might surprise you, but Brazil and Japan have a rich history. In fact, they’ve faced each other ten times. Brazil came out on top seven times, the match ended in a draw twice, and Japan won once. However, that 3-2 victory for Japan was less than a year ago, so the Japanese are undoubtedly brimming with confidence.

Expected Lineups

Brazil (4-3-3):

Alisson, Sandro, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Danilo, Casemiro, Bruno, Vinicius, Paquetá, Rayan, Cunha

Japan (3-4-2-1):

Suzuki, Ito, Itakura, Tomiyasu, Nakamura, Tanaka, Sano, Doan, Kamada, Ito, Ueda

Brazil vs. Japan Betting Tips

Betting Tip 1: Double Chance X2 for Japan

We believe Japan is a team that gives everyone a hard time. In fact, at the previous World Cup in 2022, neither Germany nor Spain managed to beat the Japanese. Add to that their recent 3-2 victory over Brazil, the 1-0 win against England, and the 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, and we’re predicting at least a draw for Japan. A Double Chance X2 bet at Oranje Palace pays out at odds of 2.23.

Betting Tip 2: Keito Nakamura to have more than 0.5 shots on goal

One of the standout players on the Japanese side is Keito Nakamura. Japan’s No. 13, who plays for Stade Reims, scored against the Netherlands and was also a threat on multiple occasions against Tunisia and Sweden. We think he’ll once again make his presence felt around the opponent’s box and take a shot on goal. Betting on Keito Nakamura to have more than 0.5 shots on goal at Oranje Palace gives you odds of 1.87.

Brazil vs. Japan Prediction

** Final Score: Brazil - Japan 1-1 **
As mentioned, we believe Japan is set to pull off a massive upset and surprise the Brazilians, just as they did in October 2025. Add to that the fact that they also didn’t lose to the Netherlands or England in 2026, and there’s a very good chance the match will end in a draw, with the outcome decided by a penalty shootout.