Brazil vs Japan – Predicted lineup and team news

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The Football Faithful

·29. Juni 2026

Brazil vs Japan – Predicted lineup and team news

Brazil face Japan at Houston Stadium on Monday evening in the World Cup last 32, targeting a place in the round of 16 and a likely meeting with either the Netherlands or Morocco.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side enter the knockouts with momentum — three goals in each of their last two matches, Vinicius Junior in the form of his international career, and a settled system that has dealt efficiently with every group-stage challenge. Japan, the side that handed Brazil their only defeat in the most recent encounter between the two, are a different kind of test.

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Brazil team news

Raphinha will not feature. The Barcelona winger sustained a hamstring injury against Haiti that kept him out of the Scotland match and has not returned to training ahead of Monday’s fixture. His absence removes Brazil’s primary creative threat and set-piece specialist from the right flank.

Ancelotti is not expected to change the system, however, with Bournemouth teenager Rayan retaining his starting place. The 19-year-old has impressed throughout the group stage with his directness, pace and willingness to take on defenders.

Neymar is fit and available. The Santos forward made his first Brazil appearance in almost 1,000 days when he came off the bench against Scotland, and Ancelotti is expected to use him in the same super-sub role here. His return adds genuine quality to Brazil’s attacking options in the second half of knockout games.

Eder Militão and Rodrygo are both absent for the entire tournament through injury — Militão with a hamstring tear and Rodrygo with an ACL and meniscus injury — reducing Ancelotti’s defensive and forward depth.

Casemiro and Danilo each carry a yellow card into this fixture, meaning a booking tonight would rule either player out of the round of 16.

Vinicius Junior starts on the left, Matheus Cunha through the middle. Alisson continues in goal behind a back four of Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Douglas Santos.