World Cup 2026: Martinelli's Stoppage-Time Winner Sinks Japan

Casemiro and Martinelli flip a 1-0 deficit in Houston

Brazil beat Japan 2-1 in their World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match at NRG Stadium in Houston, but it was anything but comfortable. Japan struck first and held the lead into the second half before Casemiro and a stoppage-time winner from Gabriel Martinelli flipped the scoreboard.

The numbers tell the story of a one-sided possession game that took a long time to translate into goals. Brazil controlled 69% of the ball to Japan's 31%, piled up 116 attacks to 61, and registered an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.72 against Japan's 0.23. Brazil put seven shots on target; Japan managed two. Yet for an hour, Japan's discipline and 45 clearances kept them in front, and it took until the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time for Brazil to put the result beyond doubt.

How Ancelotti's Brazil and Suzuki's Japan lined up

From Sano's 29th-minute strike to Martinelli at 90+5

The card book opened early, with K. Sano booked in the 12th minute and Casemiro following two minutes later. Sano then turned villain into hero for Japan, opening the scoring in the 29th minute to give the Samurai Blue a lead that, on the run of play, was a genuine surprise.

Brazil made a change at the break, bringing on Endrick for Lucas Paqueta, and the second half belonged to them. Casemiro levelled in the 56th minute, finishing a move set up by Gabriel. The introduction of Gabriel Martinelli for M. Cunha in the 66th minute proved decisive — Japan reshuffled at the same moment, with Y. Sugawara replacing R. Doan and J. Suzuki coming on for K. Nakamura.

As the game wore on, Japan threw on fresh legs in attack, but Brazil's pressure kept building. The dam finally broke deep into stoppage time: in the 90th minute plus five, Martinelli converted a Bruno Guimaraes assist to seal it. Casemiro had already been replaced by Fabinho moments earlier, his work done.

The futbol.so crowd nailed it: Brazil 2-1

This one went to the people who called it. The futbol.so community leaned firmly toward Brazil, and the most popular scoreline among them was exactly Brazil 2 - Japan 1 — the precise final result. That's about as good as it gets for a community read.

The official model agreed on the direction, making Brazil the most likely winner. Around the world, the picks varied on the margin even where the lean was consistent: fans in Austria also landed on the 2-1 result, while Argentina's crowd expected a more emphatic Brazil 3-0, England's leaned to a 3-2 thriller, and Colombia's saw a 1-1 draw. The winner was widely predicted; the manner — a stoppage-time decider after Japan led — was the part that kept everyone honest.

Video highlights

FIFA WC 2026 | Brazil - Japan 2:1 | (plej-of ) | 29.06.2026.

Only available in BA, ME, MK +2

Brazil vs. Japan FULL REACTION 🍿 | How far can Brazil go in the World Cup? | ESPN FC

No geo restriction

Brazil v Japan - Full Post Match Analysis | Keane, Vieira & Postecoglou | FIFA World Cup 2026

Only available in GB, GG, IM +1

DRAMA! Brazil steal it right at the death! 🇧🇷 Gabriel Martinelli in the 96th-minute!

Only available in GB, GG, IM +1

WOW! Incredible from Kaishū Sano as Japan take the lead vs Brazil 💫

Only available in GB, GG, IM +1

HIGHLIGHTS - Brazil v Japan | Injury-time drama! | FIFA World Cup 2026

Only available in GB, GG, IM +1

15-Minute Match: Brazil vs Japan | 2006 Masterclass

No geo restriction

Brazil Train Before Japan | FIFA World Cup 2026™

No geo restriction

Match Preview: Brazil vs Japan | FIFA World Cup 2026™

No geo restriction

World Cup: Brazil vs Japan

No geo restriction

World Cup: Brazil vs Japan

No geo restriction

World Cup: Brazil vs Japan

No geo restriction

World Cup: Brazil vs Japan

No geo restriction

It was a fight to the finish, but Brazil's edge in possession and chance creation eventually told. The xG gap of 1.72 to 0.23 underlines just how much they dominated, even if Japan's resolve made them sweat until the final whistle.

Brazil move on with the kind of late-winner momentum teams love to carry into the next round. We'll have full reaction and a look ahead as the World Cup 2026 knockout bracket takes shape.