World Cup: Bundesliga trio start for Japan against Cunha’s Brazil

Five-time winners Brazil face Japan in the second Round of 32 fixture at the 2026 World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti’s men finished top of their group, with former Hertha BSC and RB Leipzig attacker Matheus Cunha finding the net three times. Cunha and ex-HSV fullback Douglas Santos both maintained their starting spots for the first knockout stage game.

As for Japan, FC Bayern's Hiroki Itō, Mainz's Kaishu Sano and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ritsu Doan are all in the starting lineup. The latter will be the captain for the second time in the tournament. Shuto Machino (Gladbach), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg) and Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg) start on the bench.

Here are the lineups for the knockout stage game at Houston.

Confirmed Brazil vs. Japan Lineups

Brazil XI: Allison; Danilo, Marquinhos ©, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Paqueta; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Jr

Japan XI: Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, H. Itō; J. Ito, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Doan ©; Ueda