Defeating Brazil, Japan’s stars declare their ambition to win the World Cup

Forward Ayase Ueda stood out by scoring the winning goal that led Japan to a 3-2 triumph against Brazil in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2025, simultaneously confirming their aim to win the 2026 World Cup.

On the evening of October 14th, at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, Japan’s national team made history by coming from behind to beat Brazil 3-2 in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2025. This result not only marked Japan’s first-ever victory against the world’s number one team but also highlighted the significant progress made by coach Moriyasu’s squad on their path to the 2026 World Cup.

Compared to their previous win over Paraguay, Japan made four changes to their starting lineup, continuing with their familiar 3-4-2-1 formation. However, the home side quickly found themselves in trouble after Paulo Henrique opened the scoring in the 26th minute, followed by a second goal conceded in the 32nd minute. By halftime, Japan trailed 0-2 and faced the risk of a heavy defeat on home soil.

In the second half, the resilient fighting spirit of the Blue Samurai was clearly evident. In the 52nd minute, Takumi Minamino capitalized on a defensive error by Brazil to reduce the deficit. Just ten minutes later, a decisive strike from Keito Nakamura leveled the match. The climax came in the 71st minute when Ayase Ueda rose high to head the ball into Brazil’s net, completing a spectacular comeback to win 3-2 and securing a historic victory for the Asian team.

After the match, Ayase Ueda said: "I am very happy, thank you everyone. Although the first half didn’t offer many chances, thanks to the quality crosses from Junya Ito, I felt confident I could score. I’m especially delighted with this goal. I wanted to score earlier, but I’m glad it was such an important goal.

When asked about his ambitions for the 2026 World Cup, the forward representing Japan confidently stated: "Like the entire team, my goal is to become champions. I can’t promise we’ll make history, but the team and I are growing stronger every day as we aim for that target."

Could this victory over Brazil be the starting point for Japan’s miraculous journey toward the 2026 World Cup crown?