Japan Beats Brazil 2-1 in Singapore Friendly
Vinícius Júnior scored for Brazil, but two early Japanese goals from Takefusa Kubo and Kaito Nakamura decided the match at the National Stadium.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Soccer
Japan defeated Brazil 2-1 in a friendly at the National Stadium in Singapore after goals from Takefusa Kubo in the 15th minute and Kaito Nakamura in the 19th. Vinícius Júnior pulled one back for Brazil in the 33rd minute with a shot from outside the box.
Why it matters
The result adds to a recent run of meetings between the two sides, with Japan winning again after a 3-2 victory in October 2025 and Brazil having won their 2026 World Cup round of 32 match 2-1. It gives Brazil a 2-1 defeat to take into the final days of its camp.
Vinícius Júnior had scored only one goal in a Real Madrid shirt this season across all competitions and recorded three La Liga assists with none in the Champions League. His goal was his only strike in this match against Japan.
The players
Vinícius Júnior
Vinícius Júnior is a Brazilian forward who plays for Real Madrid and scored Brazil's goal in the match.
Takefusa Kubo
Takefusa Kubo is a Japanese forward who scored Japan's opening goal in the 15th minute.
Kaito Nakamura
Kaito Nakamura is a Japanese forward who scored Japan's second goal in the 19th minute after a low cross from Shuto Nakano.
The details
Shuto Nakano delivered a low cross that Kaito Nakamura finished to the right of the goalkeeper for Japan's second goal. Bruno Guimarães passed to Vinícius Júnior in front of the box before he struck the ball to pull a goal back for Brazil.
Timeline
October 2025: Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly.
2026 World Cup round of 32: Brazil beat Japan 2-1.
November 14, 2026: Brazil lost 2-1 to Japan in Singapore.
Next Tuesday: Brazil is scheduled to wrap up its camp against Singapore.
Season Trajectory
This result is Japan's second straight win over Brazil after its 3-2 victory in October 2025, and it reverses Brazil's 2-1 World Cup round of 32 win over the same opponent. The pattern shows Japan competing closely with Brazil across recent meetings.
For fantasy managers, Vinícius Júnior's goal in a friendly does not change his La Liga role, where he has three assists this season. The match has no direct effect on club-level rosters or scheduling.
The takeaway
Friendly results often reveal how national teams perform in build-up to major tournaments, and Japan's repeated wins over Brazil show it can compete with the Brazilians across different formats.
What happens next
Brazil is scheduled to wrap up its camp against Singapore next Tuesday.
Further reading
Find more match reports and analysis in our Soccer coverage.
