The teams had previously met 14 times, including once in the World Cup: a 4–1 group stage win for Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their latest encounter took place at the 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup last October, when Japan gained their first win ever against Brazil in a 3–2 comeback. After 29 minutes, Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano made a solo run from the halfway line, before shotting low from outside the penalty area into the bottom left corner of the net. Japan nearly conceded seven minutes into the second half, with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki just managing to keep it off the line. Defender Casemiro equalized for Brazil at 56 minutes, with a close-range header at the back post after a cr