Japan takes a shock lead over Brazil, with Kaishu Sano travelling half the field to score a brilliant goal in Houston.

Later, Germany meets Paraguay and Netherlands take on Morocco.

Meanwhile, Sam Kerr has signed with US National Women’s Soccer League club, Gotham FC, following her exit from London club Chelsea.

Check out the full World Cup schedule here in Australian timesABC Sport podcast: Check out the latest episode here

Follow all the action in our live blog.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:29am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:29am

Live updates: Brazil vs JapanTue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:18am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:18am

BRAZIL IS LEVEL! GAME ON!Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:18am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:18am

54′ How haven’t Brazil scored there!?

Brazil is really turning the screw now and Japan is hanging on a touch right now.

A ball is floated into the penalty area and then Casemiro produces a diving header, which cleared off the line by a Japanese defender.

There’s an almighty scramble and the Samurai Blue somehow get the ball away.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:16am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:16am

52′ Big save Japan!

Best chance of the game for Brazil.

The ball is whipped into the penalty area and Bruno Guimarães gets his head on the ball.

He makes good contact but it’s a brilliant save from Zion Suzuki above his head.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:13am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:13am

49′ Endrick lively, booking for Brazil

Daizen Maeda picks up the ball in midfield and motors forward – but doesn’t get too far, with Danilo bringing him down cynically.

It’s a yellow card for the Brazilian fullback.

Meanwhile, Endrick has looked lively since entering the game at halftime.

He’s produced a couple deft touches and came close to threading something through the Japanese defence.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:08am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:08am

Brazil with 45 minutes to save their World Cup

And Carlo Ancelotti has turned to his bench, bringing on teen sensation Endrick for Lucas Paquetá, who looks like he may be carrying a bit of a knock.

Endrick will play in the forward line, with Matheus Cunha likely to drop a little deeper to account for Paqueta’s absence in midfield.

We’re back underway in Houston.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:02am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 4:02am

HT stats

Plenty of possession, not a whole lot of incision for Brazil.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:51am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:51am

HT: Japan 1 – 0 Brazil(Getty Images)

Wow, we are on course for a seismic result in Houston.

Japan have had little of the ball but have been incredibly well disciplined while defending, starving Brazil of any meaningful moments in the final third.

There’s more than a little frustration beginning to seep into proceedings for the five-time world champions as well, with superstar Vini Junior among those in yellow visibly disappointed with his side’s lack of movement and creativity going forward.

(Getty Images)

But what a moment it was for Kaishu Sano.

The central midfielder, recalled to the starting XI, picked up the ball close to halfway, breezed through a stagnant Brazilian midfield, and fired hard and true from the edge of the penalty area.

Japan halfway there.

Brazil with a lot of work to do.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:47am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:47am

45+1′ We’re into four minutes of stoppage timeTue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:47am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:47am

45′ Another Japanese booking

Japan have certainly had less of the ball, but they have been able to be a lot more productive with it.

They are once again looking menacing moving forward, and the ball is played out brilliantly to Junya Ito on the right.

He cuts in, lets fly, but his effort is blocked by the first man.

Brazil with a chance to break, and Daichi Kamada is cynical in stopping it.

It’s a yellow card, meaning both of Japan’s central midfielders have now been booked.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:39am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:39am

37′ Brazil pushing forward after conceding

Brazil has been forced to be patient since conceding, with Japan being incredibly disciplined in its low block.

Vini Junior had an effort easily saved and Matheus Cunha is the latest to try his luck.

His shot from range is low and weak and easily saved by Zion Suzuki.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:29am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:29am

29′ OH MY! JAPAN IN FRONT!(Getty Images)

What a moment in Houston!

It’s Kaishu Sano with his first international goal and it’s an absolute peach!

The central midfielder intercepts a pass on halfway and charges through a pretty lifeless Brazilian defence.

He makes his way to the edge of the penalty area and he lashes his shot low and hard and into the net!

(Getty Images)

Massive.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:29am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:29am

28′ Japan chance from the set piece

Japan are a very well-drilled team from the dead ball, and have an opportunity to swing a corner in.

And it’s Ayase Ueda rising high and getting his head on the cross!

But he’s unhappy with himself as his effort flies well over the bar.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:24am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:24am

24′ We’re off for a drink(Getty Images)

Plenty of territory for Brazil, but, as of yet, nothing too clear cut in terms of chances.

Japan has been disciplined in its low block, but there is a heart-in-mouth moment for the Samurai Blue as Keito Nakamura gives the ball away in his own half.

Douglas Santos can’t make the most of the opportunity, tackled sooner rather than later, but it’s a kind of carelessness Japan can ill-afford today in Texas.

We’ve reached the first-half hydration break.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:16am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:16am

14′ Chance Brazil and yellow card Japan

Matheus Cunha curls a low shot and it’s well saved by Zion Suzuki.

There’s another chance from the resulting corner, but it’s just wide.

Moments earlier, Kaishu Sano saw yellow for a mistimed challenge on Vini Junior.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:14am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:14am

10′ Friendly fire

Brazil make their way into the penalty area and Bruno Guimarães hammers something towards goal, but his effort catches Lucas Paquetá flush in the face and the attack fizzles out.

Japan reply with their first meaningful foray forward.

Keito Nakamura manufactures some room for a cross but it’s well death with by the Brazilian defence.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:10am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:10am

8′ Brazil dominating the ball

Patterns emerging in Houston.

Japan more than happy to drop deep and let Brazil stroke the ball around midfield, setting up in a 3-4-2-1, with the re-instated Junya Ito starting in the front three and captain Ritsu Doan at wingback.

Kaishu Sano commits a foul close to halfway, and Brazil floats a long ball into the penalty area.

Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki gathers.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:04am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:04am

3′ Brazil fires a first shot

It’s Brazil who have started on the front foot in Texas, pushing forward with a solid spell of possession to get us underway.

And Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães fires off the first shot of the day, after picking a Japanese pocket on the edge of the penalty area.

However, it is deflected and well wide.

Guimarães takes the subsequent corner and it’s a poor one, easily dealt with by a Japanese head.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:01am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 3:01am

And we’re off in Houston

It’s Brazil who gets us underway, kicking left to right and it their famous yellow and blue.

Japan in all white and wearing their change strip.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:58am

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:58am

Play not far off in Houston(Getty Images)

What a tantalising couple hours we have ahead of us.

The players have entered the arena in Houston, and we couldn’t be treated to a pair of more contrasting anthems.

The passionate and lively Hino Nacional Brasileiro kicks us off, before the slow and sombre Kimigayo follows it up.

The stadium is absolutely packed, filled almost entirely with yellow shirts.

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