Brazil Suffers Historic 3-2 Comeback Loss to Japan in Tokyo
Brazil suffers its first ever football defeat to Japan after leading 2-0, raising concerns ahead of World Cup preparations.
- • Brazil lost 3-2 to Japan for the first time ever after leading 2-0.
- • Goals for Brazil were by Paulo Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli; Japan’s comeback goals came from Minamino, own goal by Fabrício Bruno, and Ueda.
- • Coach Carlo Ancelotti's record stands at 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
- • Captain Casemiro urged learning from the loss ahead of 2026 World Cup preparations.
Key details
On October 14, 2025, Brazil's national football team experienced a shocking 3-2 defeat against Japan at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, marking their first-ever loss to the Japanese side in history. Brazil initially took control with a strong first half, leading 2-0 thanks to goals by Paulo Henrique in the 26th minute and Gabriel Martinelli in the 32nd minute. However, Japan staged a dramatic comeback in the second half. Minamino opened Japan’s scoring with a goal in the 52nd minute following a defensive error by Brasil's Fabrício Bruno, who later inadvertently scored an own goal at the 61st minute to tie the match. The winning goal came from Ueda in the 71st minute after another defensive lapse from Brazil.
This marked the first time under coach Carlo Ancelotti that Brazil conceded more than two goals in a single game. Ancelotti, who has led Brazil in six matches, now holds a record of three wins, one draw, and two losses, yielding a 55.5% success rate. This defeat also ended Brazil's streak of a perfect record in FIFA international windows since October 2024.
Captain Casemiro expressed his frustration following the defeat, highlighting the importance of learning from the experience ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He remarked that "45 minutes can cost a childhood dream" and stressed the need to maintain focus and avoid complacency in high-level competitions. Casemiro's comments also called attention to the "blackout" suffered by Brazil in the second half that could have serious consequences in imminent tournaments.
Looking forward, Brazil is set to play two more friendlies in November against African teams — likely Tunisia and Senegal — in Europe as part of their ongoing preparations. Additionally, they have two more FIFA international windows scheduled before the World Cup, set for March and June 2026, where more tests of the squad and strategy are expected.
Brazil finished their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in fifth place with 28 points, securing their spot in the tournament but underlining the need for improvements shown by Monday's match.