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WORLD CUP 2026 · Monday, 29 June 2026 at 18:00 BST
Brazil
2 – 1
Japan

Match preview

Brazil are clear favourites on ratings, with the model at 62%. Only a poor recent run (four-from-five) gives Japan a way in.

62%
Brazil
17%
Draw
21%
Japan
Model fair odds
Brazil
1.61
Draw
5.88
Japan
4.76

Decimal fair odds from the model probabilities before bookmaker margin.

Brazil
62%
Draw
17%
Japan
21%
Elo rating: 2092 vs 1882 (+210)
Recent form: WWWDW vs LDWDW
Host advantage: Neutral venue
Model verdict: 62% / 17% / 21%
Most likely scores
Brazil 1–0 (14%)
Brazil 2–0 (14%)
Draw 1–1 (10%)
Brazil 2–1 (9%)
Why Brazil are favourites (62%)
  • Brazil carry the higher Elo rating (+210 points)
  • Neutral venue — no home advantage applied
  • Brazil unbeaten and winning in their last five (4W 1D)
  • Japan mixed recent form (2W 2D 1L)
  • Head-to-head treated as neutral — too few recent meetings to weigh (10% of the blend)

These factors combine to produce the 62% / 17% / 21% verdict above.

Expected match pattern

Brazil are expected to control possession and territory, while Japan will likely rely on defensive organisation and counter-attacks. An early Brazil goal would force Japan to open up, raising the chance of a multi-goal result; the longer it stays level, the more pressure shifts onto the favourites.

Expected goals: Brazil 1.9 · Japan 0.7

Quick stats

MetricBrazilJapan
Elo rating20921882
Last 5 record4W 1D2W 2D 1L
Goals last 5119
Goals conceded last 535
Clean sheets last 522

Brazil — last 5

  • Wv Japan21
  • W@ Scotland30
  • Wv Haiti30
  • Dv Morocco11
  • Wv Egypt21

Japan — last 5

  • L@ Brazil12
  • Dv Sweden11
  • W@ Tunisia40
  • D@ Netherlands22
  • Wv Iceland10

Head to head

29 Jun 2026
Brazil
21
Japan
14 Oct 2025
Japan
32
Brazil
06 Jun 2022
Japan
01
Brazil
10 Nov 2017
Japan
13
Brazil
15 Jun 2013
Brazil
30
Japan

Confirmed lineups

Brazil · 4-3-3
  1. 1Alisson G
  2. 13Danilo D
  3. 4Marquinhos D
  4. 3Gabriel D
  5. 16Douglas Santos D
  6. 8Bruno Guimaraes M
  7. 5Casemiro M
  8. 20Lucas Paqueta M
  9. 26Rayan F
  10. 9M. Cunha F
  11. 7Vinicius Junior F
Japan · 3-4-2-1
  1. 1Z. Suzuki G
  2. 22T. Tomiyasu D
  3. 3S. Taniguchi D
  4. 21H. Ito D
  5. 10R. Doan M
  6. 24K. Sano M
  7. 15D. Kamada M
  8. 13K. Nakamura M
  9. 14J. Ito F
  10. 11D. Maeda F
  11. 18A. Ueda F

Key matchups

Rayan vs S. Taniguchi

Brazil's focal point in attack against the heart of Japan's defence.

Casemiro vs K. Sano

The central-midfield battle most likely to decide who controls possession and territory.

J. Ito vs Marquinhos

Japan's main outlet — how Brazil's central defence handles him shapes the counter-attack threat.

Predictions are model output, not betting advice. The model blends an Elo rating, last-5 form and host advantage; ratings update after every tournament result, and fair odds and likely scorelines are derived from the same blend. Bet responsibly — 18+. See PuntHub for verified tipster services.