Brazil and Japan meet in a mouth-watering round of 32 clash at Houston Stadium. Later, Germany meets Paraguay and Netherlands take on Morocco.Meanwhile, Sam Kerr has signed with US National Women's Soccer League club, Gotham FC, following her exit from London club Chelsea.Follow all the action in our live blog.Collapse all postsFilter PostsAll13Key Events3Brazil vs Japan10Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:14amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:14am10' Friendly fireBrazil make their way into the penalty area and Bruno Guimarães hammers something towards goal, but his effort catches Lucas Paquetá flush in the face and the attack fizzles out.Japan reply with their first meaningful foray forward.Keito Nakamura manufactures some room for a cross but it's well death with by the Brazilian defence.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:10amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:10am8' Brazil dominating the ballBy Henry HansonPatterns emerging in Houston.Japan more than happy to drop deep and let Brazil stroke the ball around midfield, setting up in a 3-4-2-1, with the re-instated Junya Ito starting in the front three and captain Ritsu Doan at wingback.Kaishu Sano commits a foul close to halfway, and Brazil floats a long ball into the penalty area.Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki gathers.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:04amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:04am3' Brazil fires a first shotBy Henry HansonIt's Brazil who have started on the front foot in Texas, pushing forward with a solid spell of possession to get us underway.And Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães fires off the first shot of the day, after picking a Japanese pocket on the edge of the penalty area.However, it is deflected and well wide.Guimarães takes the subsequent corner and it's a poor one, easily dealt with by a Japanese head.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:01amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:01amAnd we're off in HoustonBy Henry HansonIt's Brazil who gets us underway, kicking left to right and it their famous yellow and blue.Japan in all white and wearing their change strip.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:58amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:58amPlay not far off in HoustonBy Henry Hanson(Getty Images)What a tantalising couple hours we have ahead of us.The players have entered the arena in Houston, and we couldn't be treated to a pair of more contrasting anthems.The passionate and lively Hino Nacional Brasileiro kicks us off, before the slow and sombre Kimigayo follows it up.The stadium is absolutely packed, filled almost entirely with yellow shirts.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:52amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:52amSam Kerr's future revealedBy Henry HansonIn more big news from North America, Matildas legend Sam Kerr has signed with NWSL outfit Gotham.Tom Wildie has more.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:49amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:49amBrazil's path to the knockoutsBy Henry Hanson(Getty Images)Brazil topped Group C, but only on goal difference.They drew 1-1 with Morocco in their first game of the tournament, before picking up back-to-back 3-0 wins against Scotland and Haiti.Vini Junior is their main man in attack and was on song during the group stage, scoring four goals and making one assist.He was supported ably in attack by Manchester United's Matheus Cunha and teenage wide man Rayan.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:45amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:45amHow Japan got hereBy Henry Hanson(Getty Images)Japan qualified for the knockout stages as runners up in Group F.The Samurai Blue began its tournament with an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, before belting a terrible Tunisia side 4-0 and finishing with a 1-1 stalemate with Sweden.Japan was very impressive throughout the group stage, and was pretty unlucky to have its efforts rewarded by a round of 32 clash with five-time winners Brazil.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:42amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:42amClose ties on and off the football pitch for Japan and BrazilBy Henry HansonAPThese countries have extremely strong ties with Brazil being home to about 2.7 million Japanese descendants, which is the largest Japanese population outside of Japan.Those ties extend to soccer where Brazilian superstar Zico moved to Japan in 1991 to play for the Kashima Antlers and help build Japan’s professional soccer network. He managed the Japan national team from 2002-06, leading the team to the World Cup in 2006.It was in that World Cup where these teams had their first and only meeting in the tournament with Brazil notching a 4-1 victory.Brazil leads the overall series with 11 wins. The teams have played to two draws and Japan collected its first-ever win over Brazil in a friendly in Tokyo in October. Japan trailed 2-0 at halftime before rallying for the 3-2 victory.Coach Hajime Moriyasu thinks that win will impact how Brazil approaches his team Monday.“They will be so much more motivated to play against us,” he said. “They are intent on winning against us. Because of that we feel that the match will be very intense.”The winner will face the winner of Ivory Coast-Norway on July 5 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:41amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:41amJapan without star player KuboBy Henry HansonWith ReutersJapan won't have star winger Takefusa Kubo today.Kubo suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee during Japan's tournament opener against the Netherlands on June 14. He was held out of the Samurai Blue's remaining group-stage matches against Tunisia and Sweden as he rehabbed his knee.Kubo — nicknamed "the Japanese Messi" — trained separately from his teammates on Sunday in the portion of practice open to media. But coach Hajime Moriyasu removed any question about Kubo's status later in the day."He's still only doing individual running (and) training, so he's not going to play in the match against Brazil," Moriyasu said."We really wish for him to recover swiftly, and he wishes it, too."Japan was still able to finish second in Group F without Kubo's services to secure advancement. They have reached the knockouts in three straight World Cups and four of the past five, but Brazil represents a major challenge."Brazil are always a leading team," Moriyasu said. "They have a very good chance of winning. Some people will say Japan are underdogs. We will play with that in mind."We will respect the opponents but like last year (in the friendly win) we weren't given a chance to win. This possibility to win — we can change history."Key EventTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:39amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:39amJapan team newsBy Henry Hanson(Japan FA X)Four changes for Japan from their last group-stage match, with Takehiro Tomiyasu's return a big plus for the Samurai Blue.Tomiyasu looks likely to play as a wide central defender in a back three, with Shōgo Taniguchi also coming in beside him.Kaishu Sano will slot into central midfield, with Ao Tanaka dropping out.The lively Junya Ito also enters the side. It looks like he'll be playing at wingback.Key EventTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:35amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:35amBrazil unchangedBy Henry Hanson(Brazil FA X)Brazil's veteran manager Carlo Ancelotti names an unchanged side to the one that dispatched of Haiti 3-0 in its final group game.It's Vini Junior to continue as the main man in the forward line, with teenage sensation Rayan continuing alongside him.National team legend Neyman is good for a spot on the bench.They will line up in a 4-3-3 with Manchester United's Casemiro anchoring the midfield.Key EventTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:32amTue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:32amWelcome!By Henry HansonGood morning, everyone!I hope you're warm and snug and I hope the coffee is strong as we sink our teeth into a massive day of World Cup action.First up, it's arguably the match of the round in Houston, with Brazil and Japan facing off in a seismic clash.Then, Paraguay will be hoping for an upset against Germany in Boston, before the Netherlands and Morocco lock horns in Monterey.My name's Henry and it's a pleasure to be here.Email address