Soccer/Football

Brazil vs Japan betting tips and predictions: Can the Blue Samurai upset the Selecao?

Jun 29, 2026 - 11:15

Five time World Cup winners Brazil face a tough test in the round of 32 against Japan in Houston tonight.

Brazil vs Japan best bets

Both teams to score – 1/1 with Betfred
Keito Nakamura to be carded – 21/5 with Betfred
Vinicius Jr to score anytime – 7/5 with BOYLE Sports

Brazil vs Japan head to head overview

Date: Monday, 29th June 2026
Kick-off: 6pm
Venue: Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA
Where to watch: ITV, ITVx, STV, STV Player
Referee: Maurizio Mariani
Last meeting: Japan 3-2 Brazil (October 2025)
Favourite to win: Brazil – 4/6 with bet365

Brazil vs Japan predicted lineups

Brazil expected lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson (GK); Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Guimaraes; Rayan, Paqueta, Vinicius; Cunha
Japan expected lineup (3-4-1-2): Z. Suzuki (GK); Tomiyasu, Watanabe, H. Ito; Sugawara, Kamada, Tanaka, Nakamura; Doan; Maeda, Ueda

Brazil vs Japan prediction

Brazil are slight favourites to defeat Japan tonight and advance to the round of 16.

But the most recent match between the two nations, will be a warning sign to the Selecao, with Japan winning 3-2 in October 2025.

Japan’s unconventional style has got the better of England earlier this year and are what the US love to call a real ‘sleeper’ team, who could trip up any of the bigger nations in this tournament.

They advanced from the group stage with five points, drawing with Netherlands and Sweden, with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia in between.

Japan’s high-press and intense style that’s thwarted many over the last few months could also be their Achilles heel. They’ve had to deal with major absentees such as Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo and Kaoru Mitoma.

We can expect the Blue Samurai to come out of the blocks all guns blazing but could they gas out in the second and allow Brazil’s stars to pick them off?

Carlo Ancelotti has navigated his first World Cup well so far. Having tweaked some defensive issues from the 1-1 opening draw with Morocco.

And this is where the big players step up and produced the moments of magic and Brazil have a lot them.

Brazil vs Japan prediction, betting tips, lineups, referee, how to watch

Brazil vs Japan betting tips

Vinicius to score anytime

Vinicius Junior has scored in four of his last four appearances.

With eight direct goal involvements in just seven World Cup appearances, we think Vinicius will be the chief tormentor for the Japanese defence.

The Real Madrid winger has scored four and provided an assist already, looking like a different player from the one that coasted along at an underperforming Madrid in La Liga last season.

Nakamura to be carded

Stade de Reims winger Keito Nakamura could be in for a tough game here.

Nakamura had been a standout performer in attacking areas for the Japanese this summer, helping to ease the burden on those playing up-front in the absence of their injured stars.

However with the deluge of injuries in the Japan squad, the attacking midfielder has been playing out of position at wing-back. For the most part he’s done a fine job, but he has only really been tested by one quality winger in West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville, who got himself a goal.

With the attacking impetus that Brazil possess, staying out of the referee’s notebook against Rayan will be tough.

Both teams to find the net

In the last four World Cup’s Japan have scored in 10 of 14 matches, history suggests they’ll be a live threat again tonight.

They did bag three against Brazil in October and came back from 2-0 down. With star man Ayase Ueda scoring their first goal.

Brazil have scored in all of their last 11 matches since World Cup qualifying ended in September.

Vinicius Jr and Matheus Cunha have got themselves amongst the goals and they’ll likely get their chances in front of goal again here.

Brazil vs Japan latest odds

Find the latest Brazil vs Japan betting odds here. Odds are provided by bet365 and are subject to change.

Brazil – 4/6
Draw – 27/10
Japan – 9/2

More World Cup predictions

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