Brazil captain, Marquinhos, has urged his teammates not to underestimate Japan ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 encounter, stressing that the Asian side has already shown its ability to trouble the five-time world champions.
Speaking at the official pre-match press conference in Houston, the defender reflected on Japan’s memorable 3-2 friendly win over Brazil, describing it as an important lesson that helped shape the team’s development in recent years.
“I think it was a learning experience for all of us. Everything we’ve gone through in recent years, up to this World Cup, has served as a lesson and a test for us.”
“The coach was able to understand what hadn’t worked and, as for me, watching a Brazil match from the outside is always very tough, because you want to be on the pitch helping your teammates.
“That match, however, taught us a lot. Since then, we’ve grown a lot as a team, and we’ve shown it in the last matches of this World Cup. Today the situation is completely different: we’re in the round of 32, and a new competition begins.
“We’ve analysed Japan in recent days, and we know they’re a team of great quality. We’ve prepared a strategy to try to limit their strengths and make the most of our own qualities.
“The group stage is now behind us. Securing qualification and finishing first was our main goal, but from tomorrow a new tournament begins. In the knockout matches, the details will make the difference and we want to give our best on the pitch to play a great game.”
Brazil progressed to the knockout stage as winners of Group C and will face Japan, who finished as runners-up in Group F, in Houston.
Japan arrive in the Round of 32 in impressive form, extending their streak of reaching the knockout rounds to three consecutive World Cups.
They secured qualification after drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands, hammering Tunisia 4-0, and earning a draw against Sweden during the group stage.
