At 1 a.m. on June 30, Beijing time, a round of 16 match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will take place, with the Brazil team facing the Japan team.
As a professional translator, please ONLY provide the English translation. The rest should be left unchanged: “A major battle is approaching. In an editorial published on June 29th by Nikkei Asia, it was stated that the Japanese team intends to seek compensation for an ‘old debt’ from the Brazilian team. After suffering a crushing 1-4 defeat at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the ‘Blue Warriors’ now desire to achieve a milestone victory over the ‘Samba Army’.
The article recalls that 20 years ago, the Brazilian team made Japan realize that there was still a long way to go in the world football landscape. But now, Japan has the opportunity to turn that painful lesson into a decisive victory that showcases its strength. Playing against the “Five-Star Brazil” in Houston, Texas, is not just an elimination match; it’s like a touchstone to test whether Japan has finally narrowed the gap with this powerful team that once shaped their own football style.
The article states that for a long time, Japanese football has regarded Germany and Brazil as its mentors in shaping its development. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Japanese team defeated Germany, serving as a powerful tribute to this "mentorship." If they can also defeat Brazil at this World Cup, it will be even more impressive. It will not only cause a huge stir in the football world but will also attract the attention of global audiences.
In the 2006 World Cup, the Brazilian team defeated Japan 4-1. Information picture
The author of this commentary article is Takashi Takeyuki, a famous Japanese football journalist and sports commentator. He has also been serving as the editor-in-chief for the Japan Economic News for a long time.
He recalled that in the early years, under the guidance of the legendary Brazilian player Jiquko, the Japanese team managed to draw 2-2 with the powerful Brazilian team at the 2005 Confederations Cup. People hoped that they would achieve the same feat at the World Cup the following year.
However, the memories of the 2006 World Cup still haunt the Japanese team. In that World Cup group stage match against Brazil, forward Keisuke Matsuda once helped Japan take the lead. But then, Ronaldo, Juninho, and others combined to deliver a brutal 4-1 victory, exposing the huge gap in strength between the "ambitious" Japanese team and the world's top teams.
Waki Takashi Kondo said that 20 years have passed. After defeating Germany in the Qatar World Cup and winning against Brazil in a friendly match, the Japanese team faces their old rival once again. This time, they are no longer the romanticized weak team, but a strong team with tactical continuity, confidence, and a tacit understanding that allows them to work together without words. They are capable of making the Brazilian team, this 'veteran', sweat from fear.
Before this World Cup, the Japanese team made history by defeating Brazil 3-2 in a thrilling friendly match held in Tokyo in October 2025. Clearly, over the past 20 years, the gap in strength between Japan and Brazil has significantly narrowed.
The article states that the Brazilian team had a talented squad 20 years ago, including giants such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Roberto Carlos.
In today’s Brazilian team, left winger Vini Jr. is the biggest threat, but there is no player like Robert Carlos who can deliver amazing free kicks.
The article also states that the Brazilian team was once a model of what is known as “silent football.” Before a large number of talented local players flocked to European clubs, this national team often played with a rhythm akin to samba, displaying a kind of tacit understanding that typically exists only among teammates from the same club. Examples like Jeco’s “passing without looking” during his playing days are emblems of this style. Today, as the Brazilian team’s tactical style increasingly resembles that of European teams, this unique personality has gradually faded away. The last time the Brazil team won a World Cup was in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.
It is noteworthy that before the start of this U.S.-Mexico-Guatemala World Cup, Japan coach Yoshida announced a goal of 'winning the championship'. Although Japan has great ambitions, many people outside still believe it is unlikely that this goal will be achieved.
However, after the start of this World Cup, the Japanese Football Association once again reiterated the core vision of its "JFA 2005 Declaration". It officially set the ultimate goal for football development as hosting a World Cup in 2050 and winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or in Japan. This long-term football plan, spanning 45 years, has once again sparked intense discussion in the world of football.
It is reported that this programmatic document was officially released on January 1, 2005. It represents the core of Japan’s century-long football development plan. The document outlines a hierarchical approach to tasks, with all measures aimed at achieving the ultimate goal by 2050: successfully hosting the World Cup in 2050, winning the World Cup championship for the Japanese men’s football team at home, and having the number of national football enthusiasts exceed 10 million.
