Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano (24) shoots and scores against Brazil midfielder Casemiro (5) during the first half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano, right, celebrates after scoring a goal against Brazil during the first half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano, right, celebrates after scoring a goal against Brazil during the first half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japan forward Ritsu Doan (10) celebrates Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano (24) goal against Brazil in the World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano (24) celebrates after kicking a scoring goal against Brazil in the World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Opening ceremony before Japan and Brazil compete in the World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans dance and sing as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japanese fans cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Fans of Brazil cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
A Japan supporter wears a themed helmet as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
A fan of Brazil cheers as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japanese super fans lead chants with Brazilian fans before World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Wearing the flag of Japan fans make their way to the World Cup Round 32 playoff match against Brazil at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Japanese fans cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japanese fans cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japanese fans cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Japan fans make their way into the stadium before World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Japanese super fans lead chants with Brazilian fans before World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Kenji Hirota of Tokyo passes out head bands before the team takes on Brazil in the World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Japan fans take photos with Brazil fans before World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
A Brazil and Japan national team fans take a selfie together during a Brazil fan march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
A Brazil fan dressed as a bishop stands in the middle of a crowd during a march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans give out home baked sweets to other Brazil fans during a fan march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans take photos with Harris County Judge Lisa Hidalgo during a march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans walk through water going from a fire hydrant during a fan march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans walk through water going from a fire hydrant during a fan march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
Brazillian native Wallace Leite (with drum) leads others in songs and cheers at Hines Water Wall on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans gather at Hines Water Wall Park for a pre-game celebration before the team takes on Japan at FIFA”s Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Members of Movimento Verde Amarelo play songs for Brazil fans at Hines Water Wall Park for a pre-game celebration before the team takes on Japan at FIFA”s Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
A Brazil fan holds a 1962 flag, one of the years the team won the World Cup during a gathering at Hines Water Wall Park in Houston on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Brazil fans gather at Hines Water Wall Park in Houston on Sunday, June 28, 2026. The team will take on Japan in World Cup action on Monday at FIFA’s Houston Stadium.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
The World Cup knockout stage has arrived at Houston Stadium, which is full of Japan and Brazil fans as the two teams face off in a Round of 32 match to decide who will head to East Rutherford, N.J. on July 5.
Brazil fans took over Houston’s famous Waterwall Park on Sunday and marched to the stadium Monday morning in a sea of yellow and green, ahead of the match at noon. Hundreds of Japan fans gathered over the weekend at the team’s hotel and a Houston bar to chant and cheer on their team.
Follow along for live updates, highlights and fan reactions as Houston hosts its first of two World Cup knockout stage matches with Japan vs. Brazil.
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Japan has another heartbreak in the knockout stage while Brazil advances to fight another day.
Brazil breaks the tie at 95 minutes, with the final score 2-1.
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Its Gabriel Martinelli, in some open space on the left side of the box, who receives the pass and finds the low corner.
Japan fans are beside themselves. Many fell to the ground in the aftermath. They can’t believe what just happened.
— Michael Garcia and Peter Warren
Houston Stadium saw 68,777 fans Monday for the Brazil vs. Japan game.
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Soccer is a sport that can end in a tie but what happens at the FIFA World Cup when there needs to be a winner and a loser?
Matches in the group stage that are tied at the end of regulation end in a tie but level matches in the knockout stage go to extra time.
Extra time is two halves of 15 minutes, plus stoppage time.
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There is no Golden Goal at the World Cup, so a match that goes to extra time plays the entire 30 minutes of extra time.
If a match is still tied at the end of extra time, the match goes to a shootout. Five players from each team take a shot. Whichever team scored more penalties after five attempts is the winner.
If both teams have the same amount of penalties after five rounds, they continue going round by round until one team separates itself.
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The star winger got his best chance of the match, nutmegging his defender on his way down the pitch before his nifty shot hit off the post. Suzuki was able to get a hand on the shot, and that might have been the difference between Brazil leading and this game staying tied.
The Brazilian crowd is buzzing and Japan has lost all momentum.
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki (1) knocks the ball away as Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior (7) closes in on the play during the first half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
At FIFA Fan Festival, the crowd has woken up. Roars erupted when Brazil netted its first goal of the game, and Brazil chants echoed through the crowd packed underneath the Magic Sky canopy.
More than 6,500 attendees had entered FIFA Fan Festival by around 1:15 p.m, according to event volunteers keeping tally at the gates.
The EaDo event has a 7,500-person capacity
— Peter Warren and Jarrod Wardwell
The Brazilians started the second half on an offensive rampage, and the goal felt like it was coming.
There wasn’t much Zion Suzuki could do on this one. The cross is played in by Gabriel Magalhães, finding the head of Casemiro at the far post.
Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano (24) breaks away from Brazil defense in the World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Brazil is making a major change to try and spark the attack in the second half.
Lucas Paquetá is off for the 19-year-old Endrick. It is not a like-for-like sub as Paquetá has been playing in the midfield and Endrick is a forward.
It appears Endrick will move into the center forward role with Matheus Cunha dropping behind him while Vini Jr and Rayan stay on the wings.
Japanese fans cheer as Japan and Brazil take the field before a round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
In a calculated move to escape the heat, dozens of fans huddled under a misting station across from the big screen airing the match at FIFA Fan Festival.
One man draped a towel over his head. Another onlooker cooled herself with a fan.
“I’m toasted right now,” Houstonian Ja’Corey Williams said as he stood under the semi-shaded structure.
Luckily, the mist was helping. And the festival grounds brimming with fans everywhere you looked made it worth staying.
“Everybody getting together everywhere…I just want to experience this.”
The Seleção have completed 319 passes to just 171 for the Samurai Blue, according to FIFA’s stats. Brazil had 57% possession, four more crosses and four more shots than Japan.
Yet Japan leads 1-0 thanks to Sano’s stroke of brilliance in the 29th minute. The Samurai Blue fans keep chanting as the teams depart the field while the Brazilian fans are quiet.
Brazil fans are the leading force at FIFA Fan Festival in EaDo. The team’s green, yellow and blue colors peppered the warm turf in front of the jumbotron broadcasting the World Cup match.
After Kaishu Sano’s first goal for Japan, the subdued crowd remained planted on the ground.
One Japan fan standing in a nearby row of spectators was seen waving a miniature flag.
Karina and Mark Merrell of Dallas made a new friend in Erika Meira, a fellow Brazil fan who traveled to Houston from São Paolo for the Round of 32 match. The trio made it to FIFA Fan Festival before game time, each wearing bright yellow shirts.
Merrell hoped for a 2-0 win. Meira wasn’t stopping there. 4-1, she signaled.
As the three sat together at a shaded picnic table, Merrell said the country needed this moment of shared cultural expression and national pride.
“Houston is doing a beautiful job, so it feels like a big hug for us living here,” she said.
Japan celebrates its first half goal against Brazil in the World Cup Round 32 playoff match at Houston Stadium on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
At 29 minutes, Japan makes the first score of the match, bringing the score to 1 Japan, 0 Brazil.
An incredible move by Kaishu Sano has the entire Japanese bench on the field celebrating with the goalscorer.
Sano intercepted a pass at midfield and dribbled all the way down the field to the outside of the 18-yard box and finesse his shot past the outstretched arms of Alisson.
— Michael Garcia and Peter Warren
Zion Suzuki, the Japanese goalkeeper who was born in New Jersey, has been put to work early in this match against the Brazil attack.
His work has come in a variety of fashions: punching crosses out, getting low and to his right to make a save on a Matheus Cunha shot and even coming off his line.
But the job has been done so far as the match remains tied through the first 15-plus minutes.
Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, is seen displaying FIFA World Cup 2026 logos and signage ahead of the tournament start in Houston, Wednesday, June 10, 2026.n]
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
FBI Houston officials have not found a reason to think an online threat to Houston Stadium is credible on Monday morning.
“FBI Houston is aware of a threat to Houston stadium circulating online,” officials said in a statement.
“We are working with our local, state, and federal public safety partners to investigate who is behind the communication. At this time, there is no credibility to the threat. We continue to analyze and assess the situation. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or individuals to law enforcement immediately.”
Houston residents Shay Ade and Shelsea Billatoro clutched onto their portable fans under the beating Houston heat. Temperatures were set to surpass 90 degrees, and the hundreds at FIFA Fan Festival were feeling all of it.
But for Ade, it was a small price to pay for a chance to watch Brazil in his hometown with his girlfriend by his side and surrounded by other loyal fans.
“It’s bigger than football,” he said. “It’s bigger than ethnicity. It’s bigger than black and white. It’s bigger than everything. One nation, united together in different facets. It’s beautiful. All for a soccer ball, a green field and a white net.”
Ade and Billatoro both called out from their jobs to be there. Neither work nor a little heat was about to rob them of the experience.
The match between Brazil and Japan has begun in Houston.
The Japan fan section is loud and features many blue flags but it is a pro-Brazilian crowd in Houston today.
There’s a few more open spots on the second level unfilled about 10 minutes before kickoff than there were in previous days, but it is tracking toward a packed crowd.
One of the more unique things for this match are the fan banners on the upper concourse, especially for the Brazilian fans.
Brazil is playing in its first World Cup match in Houston, but the city indirectly played a critical role in the team’s famous 1970 World Cup win.
Tostão was one of the best Brazilian soccer players leading up to the World Cup. But then a freak accident threatened to derail his career.
Enter Dr. Roberto Moura of Houston Methodist.
If not for the Houston doctor, Tostão might never have gotten a chance to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy in Mexico City.
Neymar, one of soccer’s biggest stars of the past 15 years, will start on the bench for Brazil against Japan.
The decision is not surprising. He is still coming back from injury and only played his first match in years for Brazil last week.
Star winger Raphinha won’t play as he is still out with an injury, so it will be Vinícius Júnior, Matheus Cunha and 19-year-old Rayan leading the attack for Brazil.
Frank Pipkins, 35, picked up a ride Monday morning in the Texas Medical Center, and the riders asked him to drive them to a Smith Lands parking lot that was serving as the Brazilian fans meeting point.
They asked Pipkins if they could play one of the Brazilian fan songs on the ride, and Pipkins did so. Then when the pedicab arrived at the meeting point, the organizers had a question for him that would change his day.
“The band backed out, and so they were like, ‘Hey, do you mind playing the music?’ I said, ‘Yeah, for sure.’” Pipkins said. “The rest has been history.”
Pipkins became the focal point of the parade. Without a band to play the fight songs, Pipkins’ pedicab and his speaker became the heartbeat. Sometimes he went to the front of the fanwalk. Other times he was more in the middle surrounded by fans. Fan leaders would stand on the back of his pedicab directing chants and building the energy.
“This guy was awesome,” said Ramiro Oliveira, one of the leaders of the march.
Monday’s matchup is not only expected to be one of the best matchups in terms of soccer quality but also in terms of aesthetics.
Brazil is wearing their iconic yellow tops and blue shorts — a uniform combo as iconic in soccer as the New York Yankees pinstripes in baseball.
Japan’s players, on the other hand, finally get to wear their away uniform. The white uniform features 12 small stripes of color to represent the 11 players on the field and one for the “Japanese soccer family,” per Adidas.
Japan didn’t wear the acclaimed uniform in the group stage, so this will be the first time it will appear in the World Cup.
The entry line for the FIFA Fan Festival wrapped around Shell Energy Stadium Monday morning as hundreds of fans waited to watch the Round of 32 match between Japan and Brazil, which will take place a little over six miles away at Houston Stadium.
Before gates could open on Walker Street, fans lined the event’s perimeter, stretched around a corner and waited near the opposite side of the adjacent stadium by the EaDo/Stadium Metro stop. Yellow, green and blue dotted the crowd as the masses repped their national team colors for Brazil and Japan.
EaDo is ready for action.
Ticket prices for Monday’s round of 32 World Cup matchup between Brazil and Japan cost less than half of what they did a week ago, according to ticketdata.com.
The get-in price for the game was $980 as of 10 a.m. Sunday. It was $909 Monday morning, according to the site.
The resale get-in price last Sunday was around $2,072, which was near peak cost for the match since tickets first went on sale last year. The price was also more than triple the $659 cost of what it was May 28.
But ticket prices for the match sharply declined in recent days. Prices were down 41% over the past three days.
Hundreds of Japan fans showed up on short notice to Houston’s Nettbar Sunday for a rally ahead of Monday’s match, according to posts on social media.
開始4時間前のSNS告知でめっちゃ沢山の日本人が集まった in ヒューストン。すげぇ😂 pic.twitter.com/Ip398BqhsY
— TOMOYUKI YABE 🇯🇵 / べーやー (@Bee_Yaah) June 29, 2026
Retired NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III and his wife, Grete Griffin, were seen celebrating with Brazilian fans during their fanwalk to Houston Stadium.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was also spotted in the crowd.
Harris County Judge Lisa Hidalgo participates in a fan march to Houston Stadium, previously known as NRG Stadium, prior to the national team’s match against Japan in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, June 29, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
The Brazilian fanwalk has arrived outside the stadium Monday after making the short walk from Smith Lands.
“It was awesome. Everybody was here, people from Brazil, people from the U.S, everywhere, Europe, Asia, everybody coming here to the game. It’s such a beautiful energy,” said Ramiro Oliveira, one of the leaders of the fanwalk.
The fans departed at about 9:30 a.m., cheering and chanting down the street next to the light rail. There was no band so instead, a pedicab DJ played music on his speaker to keep the vibes up.
The first FIFA World Cup knockout stage match in Houston might be the best matchup the city sees the entire tournament.
Television: Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish)
Streaming: Fox Sports app (authentication required), Peacock (Spanish, subscription required)
In person: FIFA Fan Fest in EaDo opens at 10:30