Brazil went from brilliance to collapse in just a matter of days. After demolishing South Korea, Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat to Japan in Tokyo — a historic result, marking Japan’s first-ever victory over Brazil and the first time in history the Seleção have blown a 2-0 lead.

A deceptive first half for Brazil

Ancelotti rotated heavily, making eight changes from the previous match and deploying an adventurous 4-2-4 system with Vinícius Jr as a central striker. Early on, the plan seemed perfect: Brazil dominated possession, flowed through the lines, and displayed glimpses of their classic Jogo Bonito.

In the 26th minute, Paulo Henrique opened the scoring after a slick combination, and Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead soon after from a Lucas Paquetá assist. At that point, it looked like Brazil were cruising toward another comfortable win.

But Japan refused to fold. Coach Hajime Moriyasu’s tactical flexibility — a 3-4-3 that shifted into a 5-3-2 when defending — helped neutralize Brazil’s attack. The Samurai Blue ended the first half creating several dangerous chances through Minamino and Nakamura, signaling that the game was far from over.

Japan’s epic second-half comeback

The second half was pure chaos. Japan came out pressing high and with relentless intensity, completely overwhelming Brazil’s rhythm. In the 52nd minute, Takumi Minamino punished a sloppy back pass from Beraldo to make it 1-2, igniting the crowd in Tokyo.

Ancelotti tried to respond by replacing Vinícius Jr with Rodrygo, but the momentum had already shifted. Ten minutes later, Nakamura equalized with a brilliant volley off an Ito cross, and by the 71st minute, Ueda completed the turnaround with a towering header from a corner.

Despite late efforts from Rodrygo and youngster Estevão, Brazil couldn’t recover, succumbing to a stunning and humbling defeat.

A wake-up call before the World Cup

This loss serves as a reality check for Ancelotti’s Brazil, who were flying high after their 5-0 rout of South Korea. The lack of intensity, defensive errors, and loss of focus in the second half exposed a team still searching for consistency and cohesion under their new coach.

For Japan, however, it was a night of glory — a historic and symbolic victory that confirmed their growth as one of Asia’s elite teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil’s talent and reputation remain unquestioned, but this match proved one thing: without concentration, even giants can fall.