World Cup in Houston: Brazil vs. Japan set for Round of 32

The Samurai Blue earned the spot after finishing in second in Group F. Brazil clinched first in Group C and its place in the match, which kicks off at noon on Wednesday.

Chris Canetti, president of Houston’s World Cup host committee, told the Chronicle earlier Thursday that Brazil-Japan was his ideal matchup for Monday.

“If we were to write the script and could control it, we’d love to see Japan come here to play Brazil with the Netherlands having their round of 32 game elsewhere and then advancing to come here for the round of 16,” Canetti said. “That would be perhaps the dream scenario for us.”

Monday’s round of 32 match will be the sixth of seven World Cup matches in Houston and the first of two knockout stage matches. The last match is a round of 16 match on July 4.

The round of 32 matchups that lead into Houston’s Fourth of July game are Canada vs. South Africa and the Netherlands vs. Morocco, meaning Canetti’s dream scenario is a possibility.

Japan opened its World Cup with a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Arlington before beating Tunisia 4-0 and holding on for a 1-1 draw against Sweden on Thursday.

Brazil and Morocco also both finished with seven points in Group C but Brazil advanced due to having a better goal differential. The team beat both Haiti and Scotland by 3-0 scorelines after drawing 1-1 with Morocco.

Star forward Vinícius Júnior scored in each of the three matches while Matheus Cunha has three goals.

“We’ve been hoping for this since we knew it was a possibility,” Canetti said. “Brazil is one of the most successful and celebrated football teams in history, with five World Cup victories and a legacy of legendary players.”