Bundesliga players in action
Record world champion suffers historic defeat
October 14, 2025 – 4:17 p.mReading time: 1 min.
At the break everything looked like a clear success for Brazil. But then Japan turned up the heat – and achieved something historic in the long record of both teams.
The Brazilian national team suffered one of its most unusual defeats in recent memory in Tokyo. In the 2:3 (2:0) against Japan, the “Seleção” lost a comfortable lead – and lost for the first time ever against the team from the Far East. The test defeat for Vinícius Júnior and Co. was Brazil’s first against Japan in the 14th duel after eleven previous wins.
The game started promisingly from the guests’ point of view. In the first half, Paulo Henrique (26th minute) and Gabriel Martinelli (32nd) scored for the Brazilians. In the second section a different picture emerged: Takumi Minamino (52nd), Keito Nakamura (62nd) and Ayase Ueda (71st) turned things around in Japan’s favor.
Despite failures like Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma, coach Hajime Moriyasu put together a team that was convincing both in terms of play and combat. With Kaishu Sano (1. FSV Mainz 05) and Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt), two players from the Bundesliga started. Shūto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach) was also used later.
For Brazil and national coach Carlo Ancelotti, the result meant the second defeat since he took office. Previously there had only been a 0-1 defeat in the World Cup qualification in Bolivia. But: Like Japan, Brazil has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.