Japan secured a 3-2 victory over Brazil in a thrilling friendly match at Singapore’s National Stadium on Saturday, November 15, 2026. Substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto netted the winning goal in injury time, sealing a dramatic win for the Samurai Blue. The match, part of the Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series, saw both teams battle to a five-goal thriller in front of nearly 40,000 fans.
Brazil, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, suffered a setback as the team’s three-game unbeaten run came to an end. The match was marked by controversy, with Ancelotti and one of his key players receiving red cards late in the game. Security had to intervene to de-escalate the situation after Ancelotti was sent off following a heated exchange. Despite two goals from Vinicius Jr. Brazil’s efforts were undone by Japan’s late surge.
The result marked a small measure of World Cup revenge for Japan, as they avenged their 2022 World Cup defeat to Brazil. The match was the second of four in the inaugural Mizuho Blue Challenge, which also features Paraguay. The large turnout tested the capacity of the stadium and highlighted the growing interest in the series. Japan’s win in injury time added to the drama, with Sakamoto’s goal proving decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
