Kaishu Sano scored a superb individual goal to give Japan a shock 1-0 lead in their World Cup round of 32 tie with Brazil. Japan have never won a knockout game at the World Cup and, despite beating the Selecao in a friendly last year, went into the match against the five-time world champions as clear underdogs.They spent much of the opening stages on the back foot as Brazil dominated possession but, shortly after the hydration break, Japan stunned Carlo Ancelottis men as Sano scored his first World Cup goal.Sano pounced on a sloppy pass from Danilo before surging past Casemiro and unleashing a precise low effort that beat Alisson and flew into the bottom-left corner.Brazil are hoping to end a 24-year wait for a sixth title, having only gone beyond the quarter-finals once since their 2002 triumph.But Sanos goal left Brazil needing to produce a comeback to even reach the last-16 and avoid an exit that would go down as a humiliating failure for the World Cups most successful nation. Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Brazil National Football Team Japan National Football Team Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read LIVE Brazil v Japan: Commentary, updates, goals and stats as Ancelottis side face Asian giants Jon Fisher 29th June, 2026 Brazil v Japan: Confirmed line-ups as Selecao face Samurai Blue for last-16 place Nicholas McGee 29th June, 2026 Mexico v Ecuador: Line-ups, where to watch, stats and preview as co-hosts seek to end fifth game wait Nicholas McGee 29th June, 2026 Ancelotti refuses to be drawn into mind games ahead of Brazils World Cup showdown with Japan Mitch Fretton 29th June, 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026: Full England fixtures, results, schedule, confirmed squad, next match, kick off times Ben Miller 29th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Where to watch England and games on TV, full BBC and ITV knockout stage listings, confirmed channels, schedule, live online streams, kick off times Ben Miller 29th June, 2026
