Japan Already Beat Brazil, And The World Cup Is About To Get WILD

Alright, fam, buckle up! Monday, June 29, is gonna be absolutely ELECTRIC for the FIFA World Cup 2026. We're diving headfirst into the Round of 32 knockout games, with heavyweights Brazil, Germany, and the Netherlands all looking to make serious moves. This isn't just another game day, this is where legends are made, and upsets are brewing. We're gonna be glued to our screens, because this is what it's all about!

Brazil's Shaky Start and Japan's Sneaky Threat

First up, we've got a cracker in Houston: five-time champions Brazil against a Japan squad that absolutely showed out in the group stages. Get this, Japan actually beat Brazil in October 2025, coming back from a 2-0 halftime deficit! Junya Ito dished two assists, Ayase Ueda nailed the winner. That's a statement, folks! Brazil might have won Group C with seven points from wins over Haiti and Scotland, plus a draw against Morocco, but don't let that fool you. Carlo Ancelotti's squad only clinched the top spot on goal differential over Morocco, and the man himself apologized after that draw. The Haiti win was unconvincing, and the Scotland win felt like a gift from some poor Scottish mistakes. This Brazilian team isn't firing on all cylinders, a problem for a deep run.

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The good news is Vinícius Júnior has been an absolute beast, living up to the hype, scoring in all three group stage games, fifth Brazilian to do that! He even delivered an equalizer against Morocco that was one of the tournament's best. Neymar, 34, popped in for 15 minutes against Scotland after a 981-day absence, so he's available, but who knows how much Ancelotti will trust him. Japan finished second in Group F, fighting for two equalizers in a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, including an 88th-minute stunner from Daichi Kamada. They've dealt with injuries too, losing starters like Wataru Endo before the tournament, and now Takefusa Kubo is questionable with a knee injury. History favors Brazil six to one in all-time meetings, but that recent Japan win? That's the real talk. Brazil is favored, yeah, with five World Cup trophies, but Japan's playing with a swagger and confidence that could make this game closer than anyone expects.

Germany's Tricky Path and a Top-10 Clash

Later, Germany is heavily favored to roll over Paraguay in Boston, but don't call it a done deal. Paraguay has been defending like crazy, not giving up a single goal in their last two games. That's a squad that knows how to frustrate, and Die Mannschaft will have to earn every inch. One mistake and it's over. Then, to wrap up Monday, we've got a surprisingly strong matchup hitting Monterrey: the Netherlands squaring off against African powerhouse Morocco. These aren't just any Round of 32 teams, folks. These are two top-10 FIFA World Ranked teams battling it out! Morocco made the semifinals in 2022 and they haven't stopped impressing since. This is going to be a chess match, a real grind, and exactly the high-stakes drama we live for.

So get ready, Seattle! Monday delivers serious World Cup fireworks, starting bright and early at 1 p.m. ET. Brazil's form, Japan's underdog bite, Germany's challenge, and that huge Netherlands-Morocco clash. It's all on the line. Don't miss a second!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.