• •Gabriel Martinelli scored the decisive goal in the 96th minute against Japan, according to BBC Sport.
• •The victory secures Brazil's advancement from the group stage into the tournament's Round of 16.
• •While the result is confirmed, the team's defensive vulnerabilities during the second half remain an open question ahead of the knockout phase.

Gabriel Martinelli secured a 1-0 victory for Brazil against Japan with a stoppage-time goal in the 96th minute. This late surge ensures Brazil’s progression to the Round of 16, a stage they have reached in every tournament since 1970. The match remained deadlocked for most of the regulation time, highlighting a persistent difficulty for Brazil in breaking down disciplined low-block defenses. Whether this narrow win indicates a lack of offensive fluidity or a championship-winning resilience will be tested when they face their first knockout-stage opponent.