Brazil vs Japan live updates: World Cup 2026 round of 32 game latest news and buildup

Greetings, soccer fans! Welcome to The Athletic’s live coverage of today’s round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan.

This could be one of the finest knockout stage matches in the round of 32. Japan have been a glorious team to watch, entering the knockout stage with one win and two draws.

Meanwhile, Brazil may have topped the group, but they haven’t looked like a dominant side. A spot in the round of 16 is on the line.

There is no better place to be than here, taking in the pregame buildup, play-by-play commentary from kick-off to last whistle and the postgame reaction from our insightful reporters on the ground.