Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner, sending Brazil into the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-1 comeback victory over Japan on Monday.

The result carries particular weight given Brazil's recent knockout record. The South Americans had been eliminated in four of their previous six FIFA World Cup knockout matches — more than in the preceding 17 combined, when they fell out only three times. Their last exit at the Round of 32 stage dated back to a 1-0 defeat to Argentina at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Japan's confident start

Japan arrived in the fixture riding strong momentum. They had finished second in Group F after opening with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, following up with a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia, and then securing their place in the knockout rounds with a 1-1 draw against Sweden.

That confidence showed early. Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead in the 29th minute, intercepting a loose pass in midfield, driving forward, and drilling a low shot past Ederson to give his side a deserved lead.

Brazil's second-half turnaround

Brazil levelled matters in the 56th minute through Casemiro, who climbed above the Japan defence to head home a pinpoint cross from Gabriel Magalhães into the far corner.

The match appeared to be heading into extra time when Martinelli — introduced from the bench — seized on a pocket of space inside the penalty area in the sixth minute of added time and steered his finish calmly into the bottom corner. Brazil had completed a remarkable turnaround.