In a truly historic encounter, the Japan national football team achieved a significant milestone by securing their first-ever victory against Brazil, staging a remarkable 3-2 comeback in an international friendly held at Tokyo Stadium on October 14.
This momentous triumph marks Japan’s inaugural win over the South American powerhouse in 14 attempts, a feat that had eluded the Asian side since their first meeting. The match unfolded dramatically, with Brazil asserting their dominance early on. During the first half, the visitors managed to score two goals, leaving the home team trailing in their friendly fixture. However, the second half saw a completely transformed Japanese squad, mounting intense pressure on their highly-ranked opponents.
Japan’s resurgence was spectacular, with three consecutive goals scored at approximately ten-minute intervals. Brazil’s initial goals were netted by Paulo Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli. Japan’s historic comeback began with Takumi Minamino finding the back of the net in the 52nd minute. Keito Nakamura followed up with an equalizer in the 62nd minute, setting the stage for Ayase Ueda, who struck the memorable winning goal in the 71st minute, sending the Tokyo crowd into raptures.
Ranked 19th globally by FIFA, Japan’s victory over the 6th-ranked Brazil, a nation celebrated for its record five FIFA World Cup titles, underscores the growing strength of Asian football. The atmosphere in Tokyo Stadium was electric, with Japanese supporters erupting in joyous cheers and chants every time their team scored, a level of fervent support that reportedly unsettled the Brazilian players.
Prior to this encounter, Brazil, who had already secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup through the CONMEBOL qualifiers, showcased their formidable form by convincingly defeating another strong Asian side, South Korea, with a dominant 5-0 scoreline. Despite this, Japan has been on an upward trajectory, demonstrating increasingly strong performances. Many of Japan’s key players are now plying their trade at major European clubs, a factor contributing to their enhanced competitiveness on the international stage.
Delving into their historical head-to-head record, since their first clash in 1989, Japan had previously lost 11 of their 13 matches against Brazil in various friendlies and international tournaments. They had managed to secure draws on two occasions, specifically in the FIFA Confederation Cup in 2001 and 2005, making this recent victory all the more significant.
Following the unexpected defeat, Brazil’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, emphasized the need for his team to mentally regroup, acknowledging the errors and vulnerabilities displayed by his players. Midfielder Casemiro echoed this sentiment, attributing the second-half collapse to a loss of focus and a breakdown in team cohesion. Nevertheless, Ancelotti viewed the matches against South Korea and Japan as valuable learning experiences, providing insights into the team’s negative aspects and helping them prepare for future challenges, including upcoming fixtures in November.
