Japan's head coach, Hajime Moriyasu, has made it clear that his team is brimming with belief as they gear up for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 57-year-old manager sees Japan as "dark-horse contenders" and is confident that his players can make history by taking down Brazil in the Round of 32. While he recognizes Brazil's reputation as one of football's giants, Moriyasu emphasized that, "Brazil is always considered a strong contender to win the tournament, but we also believe we are a dark horse contender. We respect them, but we have a chance to win. We will do our best to make history."

With strong recent performances and a historic win over Brazil in an international friendly last October under their belts, Japan heads into this knockout match feeling they have a real shot at pulling off another stunning upset.

 

 

On another note, Moriyasu confirmed that midfielder Takefusa Kubo will be sidelined for the Round of 32 clash due to a left knee injury he sustained during Japan's opening group-stage match. The coach stressed that Kubo's recovery is the top priority. Meanwhile, Brazil arrives with an impressive record, having topped their World Cup group for the 12th consecutive tournament, a streak that goes all the way back to 1982.

Japan's Group Stage Performance Show Why They Believe

Japan's unbeaten Group F campaign highlighted the team's tactical growth and consistency. They opened with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands using a 3-4-2-1 formation. Daichi Kamada scored as Japan stayed compact defensively before attacking quickly through central spaces. In the second match, Japan switched smoothly between a 3-4-2-1 and a 3-1-4-2 to dismantle Tunisia 4-0. Ayase Ueda scored twice, while Japan's aggressive high press forced repeated turnovers and produced their biggest-ever World Cup victory. They completed the group with a 1-1 draw against Sweden in a 3-4-3 system. Daizen Maeda found the net after Ritsu Dōan's assist as Japan used wide attacking movements to break down the Swedish defence.

At the back, captain Ko Itakura led the three-man defence with strong aerial play and accurate long passes. Hiroki Ito added pace and composure on the left side, while goalkeeper Zion Suzuki produced key saves, including four against Sweden, and kept a clean sheet against Tunisia. Japan's consistency is also reflected in the numbers. The team has shown it can dominate possession or succeed without the ball. During the group stage, it completed 316 pressing sequences and forced 28 high turnovers. Before the tournament, Japan scored 24 goals without conceding in the second qualifying round. They also created 138 attempted line-breaking attacks, underlining the sharp, disciplined style that Moriyasu believes can trouble even Brazil.