2026 World Cup: Japan takes lead against Brazil with Kaishu Sano goal

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, several major teams took to the pitch on Monday, including Brazil and Japan. Japan surprisingly took the lead when 25-year-old midfielder Kaishu Sano scored with a precision shot from 20 metres. The tournament has already broken the World Cup attendance record, with 4.6 million spectators across the group stage matches.

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Monday's Round of 16 matches offered exciting viewing. In the first match of the day, Japan surprisingly took the lead against Brazil.

Sano's precision strike breaks the deadlock

Japan's 25-year-old midfielder Kaishu Sano opened the scoring, intercepting a Brazilian pass near the centre circle, driving quickly towards goal and striking the ball from 20 metres into the far corner. It was a beautiful goal that demonstrated technical mastery.

Before the goal, the match had been dominated by Brazil and they had not managed a single shot on goal. Yet it was Japan who struck first.

Historic record against Brazil

Brazil and Japan have met 14 times throughout history. Brazil has won 11 matches, there have been two draws and Japan has won just once. That sole Japanese victory came from their last meeting in October last year, when Japan defeated Brazil 3:2. Ayase Ueda, who scored the winning goal then, starts in the lineup today as well.

Tournament attendance record shattered

The 2026 World Cup is already the highest-attended tournament in history. During the group stage, a total of 4.6 million spectators attended matches, surpassing the previous record from the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where 3.4 million spectators attended the entire tournament. However, it should be noted that this year's World Cup features a record 48 national teams and the group stage consisted of 72 matches.

The average attendance record per match, however, still stands: at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, an average of 68,991 spectators watched each match, while at the current tournament this figure is 64,507.

Title predictions shifting

According to statisticians, Argentina's probability of winning the title has increased significantly after the group stage, rising from 9 per cent to 21 per cent. France's probability has risen from 17 per cent to 23 per cent. Spain and England saw their chances fall, Spain from 17 per cent to 11 per cent and England from 11 per cent to 10 per cent. The tournament bracket favours the Argentines, as their first serious opponent comes only in the semi-finals.

On Monday, Germany also took the pitch, and later in the evening Holland and Morocco, who are expected to provide the day's most intense battle.