Why am I always so busy during matchweeks? Once again, I barely have time to write anything. Which reminds me: hey, does anyone else have an essay on Brazilian soccer they’re just burning to let out? If so, fill out this form so I can know about it! I’d love to run something more in-depth during these increasingly lengthy periods where I’m busy with other things.

Brazil vs. South Korea

Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea October 10, 2025

Kickoff: 7:00 AM EDT / 8:00 AM BRT / 11:00 AM GMT

US TV/Streaming: none 🙁

Likely Starting XI: Bento; Vitinho, Éder Militão, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães; Estêvão, Matheus Cunha, Vini Júnior, Rodrygo.

On The Bench: John, Hugo Souza; Caio Henrique, Carlos Augusto, Fabrício Bruno, Lucas Beraldo, Vitinho; André, João Gomes, Joelinton, Lucas Paquetá; Gabriel Martinelli, Luiz Henrique, Richarlison, Igor Jesus.

Brazil vs. Japan

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, October 15, 2025

Kickoff: 6:30 AM EDT / 7:30 AM BRT / 10:30 AM GMT

US TV/Streaming: none 🙁

Notes and Storylines

Again, don’t have much time, but…

  • South Korea have performed legendary giant-killings at the past two World Cups, knocking out Germany in 2018 and then securing their own spot in the knockout stage in 2022 by coming from behind to beat Portugal in the final group game, but they have not given Brazil much trouble at all in recent meetings. Five months before that 2022 World Cup, we beat them 5-1 in a friendly, and then in that World Cup round of 16 we were 4-0 up at halftime. That’s the sort of recent record where we should probably be concerned if we don’t win handily.
  • Japan should give us a tougher test, but I don’t even want to think ahead to Tuesday at this point. Bit of a shame Neymar isn’t fit, actually—if there were any favorable circumstance in which to give him one more chance for Brazil, it’d be against the team he’s scored more goals against for Brazil than any other.
  • That round of 16 game, incidentally, marks the last time Richarlison scored for Brazil—a drought that will soon turn three. But then again, nobody wearing any number with 9 in it has scored for Brazil since Igor Jesus against Chile, a whole year ago.
  • Rodrygo is finally back! I know I’ve griped in the past about his frustrating performances for Brazil, but I am very curious to see how he’ll play in his first Seleção games under Carlo Ancelotti’s tutelage. With Vini seemingly playing through the middle, he’ll even have the rare opportunity to play in his preferred left-wing spot.
  • What is Bento doing starting this game? I’m not following him too closely in Saudi Arabia, but I think that’s fine because he plays in Saudi Arabia! Júlio César, a much more pedigreed goalkeeper, spent the year leading up to the 2014 World Cup playing in MLS and we all know how that turned out. That, and it’s not hard to find instances of Bento fucking something up even in the Saudi League. This flap at air that cost Al-Nassr the Saudi Super Cup final was just two months ago. Oh well—it sounds like Hugo Souza might start vs. Japan since Ancelotti wants to give other goalies a chance in Alisson’s absence, and that’s likely to be a tougher test anyway.