Japan Hub
The Japan national team has secured a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they will face Brazil in the Round of 32. With a past record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 11 losses, Japan's growth pace is impressive. Let's look back at the memories of the Brazil match and analyze Japan's growth.
Memories of the Brazil Match
The Japan national team faced Brazil on November 10, 2017, in France. Under the management of Vahid Halilhodzic, Japan had successfully navigated the Asian qualifiers and was looking to strengthen their team ahead of the main tournament.
The Game's Progression
The game started with a one-sided pace. In the 8th minute, a VAR review confirmed a foul by Maya Yoshida in Japan's penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick for Brazil, which was scored by Neymar.
Japan's Growth
However, the second half showed promise. In the 62nd minute, Japan scored a goal through a header by Tomoaki Makino, who had run into the far side from a left corner kick by Yosuke Ideguchi. The game also saw a missed opportunity by Takuma Asano in the final minutes, demonstrating that Japan could create chances against Brazil.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-18 | Bolivia | 3-0 |
Recently, Japan's form has been 3W-1D-1L (WWWDL, most recent first), with a current streak of 3 consecutive wins. As they head into the Brazil match, Japan's growth is something to look forward to.
