Japan Closes In On Elite Nations After World Cup Exit, Moriyasu Asserts

Japan’s World Cup run ended with a 2-1 defeat against Brazil, decided by Gabriel Martinelli’s 95th-minute goal, yet Hajime Moriyasu insisted the team are closing in on world football’s elite. The coach accepted the pain of another knockout failure but stressed Japan are edging towards the level of the five-time champions.

The result meant Japan’s wait for a first victory in a World Cup knockout match continued, with this their fifth unsuccessful attempt to progress. Even so, Moriyasu argued the gap with the traditional powers is shrinking and believes the current squad’s growth shows Japan are moving into a higher competitive bracket.

At Houston Stadium, Kaishu Sano gave Japan the lead with a first international goal on 29 minutes, finishing a strong team move. Brazil responded after half-time, increased the tempo, and forced Japan deeper. The match looked bound for extra time before Martinelli arrived to change the outcome in stoppage time.

Brazil’s equaliser came in the 56th minute when Casemiro finally broke through. Earlier, one header from Casemiro had been cleared off the line by Takehiro Tomiyasu, underlining Japan’s resilience. After Ao Tanaka lost the ball near the area, Bruno Guimaraes threaded a pass to Martinelli, who beat Zion Suzuki with a composed strike.

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Martinelli’s goal, officially timed at 95:00, entered World Cup history. It is the latest winning goal in normal time in the knockout stages on record since 1996. That late twist denied Japan a chance to test themselves in extra time against Brazil, who are widely regarded as one of the strongest tournament sides.

Japan reached the last 16 after an unbeaten Group F campaign, which underlined the team’s progress. Moriyasu’s side opened with a draw against the Netherlands, then overwhelmed Tunisia 4-0, and finished with another draw against Sweden. That sequence built confidence that Japan could challenge even the strongest opponents in the tournament.

Against Brazil, Japan restricted chances in the first half and controlled space outside the penalty area. Brazil did not register a first-half shot on target from inside the box. That had not happened to Brazil in a World Cup match since the quarter-final defeat against Belgium in 2018, highlighting Japan’s disciplined defensive structure.

Japan vs Brazil World Cup: Moriyasu reaction and future goals

After the match, Moriyasu balanced disappointment with optimism about Japan’s direction. "The gap between us is closing now, Moriyasu told reporters. Of course, Brazil is a top-tier team and we are definitely approaching that level. As a result, we were devastated. Of course, there is that kind of difference in our level, and we have to up our game. To compete at the top is a goal we all have."

Moriyasu underlined the sacrifices made by the entire squad across the campaign. "I'm disappointed that we have to leave the tournament at this stage, but the players gave their all today, as they did throughout the journey to reach this point, Moriyasu added. The coaching staff also worked tirelessly to support the players. Right now I'm devastated after giving everything we had, but I want to accept this result and use it to become an even stronger team."

The head coach pointed to experience in the World Cup knockout rounds as a key missing element. Moriyasu noted that regular exposure to such high-pressure games can shape players’ mentality and decision-making under stress, something Brazil’s squad already possessed in depth from previous tournaments and major club competitions.

For Moriyasu, building that experience base is essential for Japan’s long-term football development. "This is one of the strong points of the team, Moriyasu said. Having more players gain such experience will contribute to the growth of football in Japan." Those lessons now guide preparations for future World Cups and regional competitions.

Japan leave this World Cup with another narrow knockout defeat but also clear signs of improvement. The team stayed unbeaten in the group, matched Brazil for long periods, and suffered only to a record late goal. Moriyasu and the squad now treat this loss as evidence that Japan are edging closer to the sport’s top tier.