Heavyweights Brazil will kick off their World Cup Round of 32 campaign against Japan Monday, in a match that carries added weight for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
The tie will offer both a chance for revenge after an earlier setback in Tokyo and a key test of how far the team has progressed under his leadership since that defeat.
The five-time world champions were beaten 3-2 by Japan in October 2025 after leading 2-0 in a friendly, conceding three goals in less than 20 minutes as the hosts claimed their first win over Brazil in 14 meetings.
It was another reminder of the job Ancelotti had inherited after leaving Real Madrid with only a year to turn a disjointed team into World Cup challengers.
Brazil were wobbling when the Italian arrived, about to complete their worst South American qualifying campaign, finishing fifth after working under four different managers.
