Tokyo: Japan completed a superb second-half turnaround to secure a first-ever victory over Brazil in their international friendly in Tokyo. Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil initially took the lead at 26 minutes when Paulo Henrique scored after a pass from Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli extended the lead six minutes later with a goal assisted by West Ham's Lucas Paqueta. Despite a dominant first half, Brazil could not maintain their advantage and lost to Japan.

According to BBC, Brazil had recently defeated South Korea 5-0 in another friendly but failed to replicate that performance against Japan. Brazilian captain Casemiro expressed his disappointment, stating that "a blackout" in the second half led to the loss. He emphasized the importance of staying alert, especially with the World Cup approaching, as lapses in concentration can have significant consequences.

Casemiro was joined on the field by several Premier League players, including Guimaraes, Martinelli, and Paqueta. The second half saw substitutions that included Chelsea winger Estevao, Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha, Newcastle midfielder Joelinton, and Tottenham striker Richarlison, but they could not prevent Japan's comeback.

Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, acknowledged the team's mental collapse after their first mistake in the second half, attributing it to the lack of appropriate attitude to counter Japan's resurgence. In contrast, Japanese coach Hajime Moriyasu encouraged his players to celebrate the victory while remaining cautious. He noted that strong teams would now pay more attention to Japan, urging his team to build confidence and continue progressing.

Japan has already secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup. Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada was in the starting lineup, with Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka coming on as a substitute in the second half, contributing to the historic win.