Brazil Prepares to Extend Unbeaten Streak Against Japan with Tactical Adjustments
Brazil faces Japan in a friendly match on October 14, 2025, with coach Carlo Ancelotti experimenting tactically to prepare the team for the 2026 World Cup.
- • Brazil and Japan meet on October 14, 2025, with Brazil undefeated in 13 prior matches against Japan.
- • Carlo Ancelotti plans tactical experimentation, shifting to a 4-3-3 formation.
- • Brazil won their last match 5-0 against South Korea and seeks to balance aesthetic play with collective effort.
- • The match will be held at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, which is sold out with about 50,000 spectators.
Key details
On October 14, 2025, the Brazilian national football team is set to face Japan in a friendly match at 7:30 AM Brasília time, held at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium. Brazil enters the match undefeated in the 13 encounters against Japan, boasting 11 wins and 2 draws, with a significant goal difference of 35 scored to only 5 conceded (ID 99494).
Coach Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that despite the team's strong record, the players must continue to view the team as being in a phase of experimentation ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Ancelotti intends to test different tactical formations to find the best fit, signaling a shift from the previous 4-2-4 formation to a 4-3-3 lineup against Japan. The expected starting lineup includes Hugo Souza as goalkeeper; defenders Paulo Henrique, Fabrício Bruno, Lucas Beraldo, and Carlos Augusto; midfielders Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, and Lucas Paquetá; and forwards Luiz Henrique, Vinicius Júnior, and Gabriel Martinelli (ID 99476).
Ancelotti stressed the importance of balancing aesthetic football with collective commitment, defining “beautiful football” as not only individual skill but also collective effort both with and without the ball. This philosophy underscores the team’s preparation for the match, after their commanding 5-0 victory over South Korea on October 10 (ID 99476, 99494).
The upcoming match will take place in a fully sold-out Ajinomoto Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 50,000 spectators. The game will be officiated by a South Korean refereeing team led by Kim Jong-hyeok. Brazil aims to maintain its dominance over Japan and continue building team cohesion and tactical flexibility during this international window (ID 99494).