"Watch Your Mouth" Brazil's Lesson Wasn't Enough... Japan's Shiogai Says "No Takeback, I'll Repay It With My Performance" [2026 FIFA World Cup]

[Financial News]  The price of poking a sleeping lion's whiskers was a painful comeback loss and elimination in the round of 32. But even as the young Japanese player who had boldly taunted the world's strongest team, Brazil, walked off the stage, he never lowered his head.
The Japan national football team was knocked out after a 2-1 comeback loss to Brazil in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the 30th at Houston Stadium in Texas, United States, local time in Korea. Their momentum from an unbeaten group stage run of one win and two draws came to an end, and they once again fell at the high wall of the knockout stage.
But the real highlight of the day unfolded off the pitch, in a fierce war of words and the backlash that followed. Ahead of the showdown, Japan's rising star Shiogai Kento of VfL Wolfsburg lit the fuse first. Targeting Brazil's symbol Neymar, he dismissed him by saying he was "not the player he used to be" and launched a pointed provocation, adding that "Brazil is no longer a team that commands the same respect it once did."


The bold remarks rattled Brazil's training camp, which is aiming for a record-extending sixth World Cup title. Marquinhos, Brazil's captain, immediately voiced his displeasure in a media interview, calling it an "arrogant attitude." He said the opponent's loose talk was "the perfect motivation to bring us together," and added, "We prepared for this tournament humbly for a month. We will prove on the pitch, one ball at a time, just how great Brazil still is."
In the end, Marquinhos's Brazil came out on top. Shiogai's provocation only fueled the fighting spirit of the enraged Samba squad, and Japan suffered a bitter 2-1 comeback defeat before exiting quietly.

Right after the loss, Shiogai's personal social networking service was flooded with abusive comments from Brazil fans and football supporters mocking his careless remarks.
In most cases, people facing this kind of backlash would bow their heads and walk back their words. But Shiogai chose a fierce head-on response. In the face of the criticism pouring in, he said, "We lost, so I'll accept any criticism. Feel free to criticize me as much as you want." He then added firmly, "But I have no intention of taking back what I said now, and I have no plan to back down."
The result was a crushing elimination, but his nerve in refusing to be intimidated even by Brazil, and his determination to stand by his words, were just as striking.
Shiogai said, "I will definitely repay the pain of this bitter defeat with my performance at the next World Cup," showing fierce resolve for four years from now.
Although they were eliminated in the round of 32, the sharp defiance and fighting spirit Japan showed against the world's strongest nation, Brazil, continue to leave a strong impression even after the tournament.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter