On Monday, June 29, Brazil took on Japan for a round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brazil is one of the most storied nations participating in the tournament, if not the most, having won 5 FIFA World Cup titles, which is the most of any country. Brazil was able to successfully defeat Japan and advance to the round of 16, where the team will be returning to the Meadowlands, though the win did not come easily.
The following day, Norway also took down their opponents in the round of 32, as the team defeated Ivory Coast by a score of 2-1. While Norway’s last appearance in the FIFA World Cup before this year came in 1998, the team also made the round of 16 that year, though was unable to advance any further. Now, Norway has a chance to make history and advance farther than any team ever has for the nation.
Brazil entered the game as significant favorites, with many anticipating that the team would smoothly get past Japan and advance to the next round. However, a goal in the 29th minute from Kaishū Sano gave Japan an early 1-0 lead and left Brazil in a vulnerable position. As half-time approached, Japan held onto their lead and positioned themselves well to pull off an improbable upset.
However, Brazil went into the second-half hungry for a goal, which didn’t take long, as Casemiro scored an equalizer for the team in the 56th minute. Brazil carried the momentum of the goal into much of the second half, however, Japan’s defense held the team scoreless as the clock reached 90 minutes. With the stoppage time clock continuing to tick and the game just minutes away from heading to extra time, Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli scored a brilliant goal in the 96th minute that put his team up 2-1, leaving Japan with very little time to respond. Japan was unable to create a miraculous goal in the final minutes of the match, leaving Brazil victorious in a hard-fought battle from both sides.
Brazil previously visited the Meadowlands for their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when they faced Morocco in the group stages, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. With Norway defeating Ivory Coast by a score of 2-1, the matchup will feature two teams that have already played in the Meadowlands, as Norway took on Senegal for their second group stage match of the tournament, which they won by a score of 3-2.
Norway’s win also featured a late game-winning goal, despite Norway taking a lead in the first half on a 39th minute goal from Antonio Nusa. Ivory Coast responded late with Amad Diallo scoring in the 74th minute to tie the game at one a piece. In the 86th minute, it was none other than Erling Haaland, Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer that recorded the game-winning goal to clinch Norway’s spot in the round of 16 for the first time since 1998.
The Meadowlands is in store for an exciting round of 16 game, with Brazil, one of the tournament’s most iconic teams returning to the region, hoping to book their spot in the quarterfinals. For Norway, advancing that far would be historic, as Norway hasn’t managed to get past that stage in its history. Regardless of the outcome, the Meadowlands will have an entertaining match on Sunday, July 5, as some of the sport’s most talented players take the pitch with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
