Brazil did it again. Down a goal at halftime, staring at the kind of setback that usually rattles even tournament favorites, the Seleção found another gear in the second half on Monday and punched their ticket to the Round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Japan.
The Japanese came out swinging. Kaishu Sano put one in the back of the net from the middle of the box in the first half, and for a while it looked like Brazil might be heading for an early exit. The crowd went quiet. The panic started creeping in among fans who’ve seen this team bail itself out before but never take it for granted.
Then came the response. Casemiro nodded one home in the 56th minute off a nice feed from Gabriel Magalhaes, and just like that the momentum shifted. Japan held on through the rest of regulation, but deep into stoppage time — the 90+5th minute — Gabriel Martinelli fired one that got a piece of Japanese keeper Zion Suzuki’s glove but still found the net. Game over.
That win sets up a potential Round of 16 matchup that a lot of people are already talking about. If Norway beats Ivory Coast on Tuesday, we get Brazil versus Erling Haaland. The kind of game that feels like it was scripted for TV. Haaland has been the most talked-about striker in the world for a while now, and seeing him go up against Brazil’s defense in a knockout stage would be something else.
But first, Norway has to get through a very capable Ivory Coast side. The Ivory Coast has been the second-best African team in these 2026 World Cup games, racking up six points and finishing second in Group E behind Germany. They’re not a pushover. They’re organized, physical, and they’ve got nothing to lose against a Norway team that has all the pressure of being the team with the superstar.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Morocco — who came in as one of the stronger teams on paper — still has to play the Netherlands later today. The knockout stage is taking shape, and it’s already delivering. Both Round of 16 matches so far have had goals in stoppage time. The drama’s not letting up.
Stick around. This World Cup is only getting weirder and more entertaining.
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