Japan 3–2 Brazil: Sakamoto's stoppage-time winner settles a Singapore thriller despite Vinícius's double
Japan beat Brazil 3–2 in a friendly at Singapore's National Stadium on Saturday, in the Mizuho Blue Challenge. Takefusa Kubo and Keito Nakamura put Japan two up inside 19 minutes; Vinícius Júnior scored twice — before half-time and on 75 minutes — to level it; and substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto won it in the first minute of stoppage time. Brazil's coach Carlo Ancelotti and forward Raphinha were sent off for protesting the winner, which Brazil appealed for a foul in the build-up. The win avenges Japan's World Cup round-of-32 defeat by Brazil in June.
Key points
- Japan 3–2 Brazil in Singapore — Kubo and Nakamura struck early, Vinícius levelled with two goals, Sakamoto won it at 90+1.
- Ancelotti and Raphinha were sent off protesting the winner; Brazil wanted a foul given in the build-up.
- The win avenges Japan's 2–1 World Cup round-of-32 defeat by Brazil in June.
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- Both teams play again on 17 November: Japan face Paraguay, Brazil play Singapore.
What happened
Japan started at a pace Brazil could not match, scoring twice in four minutes, before Vinícius dragged the five-time world champions level with two long-range finishes, the second off the post.
The winner came from a scramble after a deflected shot fell to Sakamoto, and the protests that followed cost Brazil their coach and a senior forward — in a friendly.
Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedJapan beat Brazil 3–2 in an international friendly at the National Stadium in Singapore on Saturday 14 November, in the Mizuho Blue Challenge series.Reuters — Japan's Sakamoto secures last-gasp 3-2 friendly win over Brazil (14 Nov 2026) · Flashscore — Japan v Brazil match report (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedTakefusa Kubo opened the scoring on 15 minutes and Keito Nakamura doubled the lead on 19; Vinícius Júnior pulled one back on 33 minutes and equalised on 75; substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scored the winner at 90+1, lifting a deflected ball over the goalkeeper.Reuters — Japan's Sakamoto secures last-gasp 3-2 friendly win over Brazil (14 Nov 2026) · Elbotola — Japan 3-2 Brazil match record (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedAfter the winner, Brazil's coach Carlo Ancelotti and forward Raphinha were sent off for protesting; Brazil had appealed for a foul on João Gomes in the build-up to Sakamoto's goal, which was not given.Reuters — Japan's Sakamoto secures last-gasp 3-2 friendly win over Brazil (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe result avenges June's World Cup round-of-32 meeting, which Brazil won 2–1 with a stoppage-time winner from Gabriel Martinelli; that defeat was Japan's only loss in their last 16 internationals (12 wins, 3 draws).Reuters — Japan's Sakamoto secures last-gasp 3-2 friendly win over Brazil (14 Nov 2026) · Flashscore — Japan v Brazil match report (14 Nov 2026)
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- The result, the scorers and the two red cards are settled across the match reports and the match record.
What we don't know yet
- Whether Raphinha's suspension carries into Brazil's next friendly against Singapore on 17 November — tournament organisers had not confirmed it in the reporting read.