Japan’s Decades in the Making: A 3-2 Shock Over Brazil That Rewrites a Dream

Historic win a culmination of decades of work

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says the 3-2 friendly victory over Brazil in Tokyo is the fruit of many years of hard work, inspiring players to view it as a stepping stone toward World Cup glory.

Japan staged a dramatic second-half comeback, overturning a 2-0 deficit to claim a historic win against the five-time world champions in their own city, the first victory for Japan in 14 meetings with Brazil.

From Moriyasu praise to the tactical path behind the win

Moriyasu praised the players and the selections that helped lay the path to this triumph, noting that those who came before set a standard and helped build today’s success.

He said that Japan had never beaten Brazil before, but the generations of players who preceded them laid the groundwork that made this win possible today.

He added that the result embodies the efforts of both the current generation and players of the past.

Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti had adjusted his lineup after a 5-0 win over Korea, keeping some attackers on the bench while starting Martinelli and Henrique alongside Vinícius Júnior in attack.

Japan also faced injuries to several regulars, including winger Kaoru Mitomo and midfielder Wataru Endō.

Brazil opened the scoring after a short sequence of passes finished by Henrique with a curling shot in the 26th minute, and Martinelli doubled the lead from a cross by Lucas Paquetá in the 32nd.

Minamino pulled one back for Japan after a defensive mix-up (52), and Keito Nakamura’s shot was redirected toward goal. In the 71st minute, a header by Oida from a Junya Itō corner sealed the comeback.

Matches between Brazil and Japan narrate a tale of evolving football

Since the late 1980s, the two nations have built a unique football exchange. A friendly in Rio de Janeiro in 1989 started a long series of meetings, reflecting both a Latin attacking flair and an increasingly disciplined Asian approach.

In 1990 in Saitama, Brazil won again, followed by a 3-0 triumph in Tokyo in 1995 under Romário. The 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany saw Japan force a dramatic 2-2 result, and the 2006 World Cup group stage delivered a 4-1 Brazil win with Ronaldo shining.

Subsequent meetings included Brazil’s 4-1 wins in Poland (2012) and Singapore (2014), and a 3-0 Brazil victory at the 2013 Confederations Cup on home soil, underscoring Brazil’s edge despite Japan’s progress.

In June 2022, Brazil edged Japan 1-0 in Tokyo via Neymar’s penalty. On October 14, 2025, Japan again faced Brazil in a friendly in Tokyo, sparking hopes of a breakthrough against the giants.

Ancelotti and the evolving rollercoaster under the SiLeSao

Carlo Ancelotti took charge of Brazil in May 2025, becoming the first foreign coach of the national team in decades. He inherited a squad that had slipped to fifth in South American qualifiers with 28 points from 18 games and endured a heavy defeat to Argentina. Since taking charge, he steered Brazil through a string of friendlies and fixtures, including a 0-0 draw with Ecuador, a 1-0 win over Paraguay, and a 5-0 victory over Korea, before the shock loss to Japan. The Brazil team remains ambitious as they build toward the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As the teams prepare for future clashes, the match in Tokyo underscored how far both programs have come and how much remains to be resolved on the road to global glory.

Brazil’s persistent challenge

Brazil often dominates, but Japan has proven capable of matching and surpassing elite teams at moments of truth. The rivalry has become a practical lab for tactical evolution and cultural exchange, and the 2025 result adds another layer to a historical narrative that continues to evolve.

Two punchlines to close: first, if Brazil keeps leaking goals at this rate, their goalkeeper might consider a side hustle as a firefighter — because every shot is a call to rescue. Second, the World Cup clock is a sniper; it picks off complacency with surgical precision, and tonight it aimed at Brazil and hit, leaving fans both astonished and giggling at the flip of the script.