29/06/2026 12:19 - Deportes
On Sunday, June 29, 2026, the NRG Stadium in Houston will host a match that transcends sports: Brazil and Japan face each other in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, closing one of the most nostalgic chapters in global sports pop culture.
This match revives the legendary anime series 'Captain Tsubasa' (known as 'Oliver y Benji' in Argentina and 'Supercampeones' across Latin America), which ended more than two decades ago without showing the anticipated match between the Japanese national team and Brazil's 'Canarinha'. The final episode of 'Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002' left millions of followers wondering what would happen in that encounter.
The series, based on the manga by Yōichi Takahashi, premiered more than four decades ago and continues to be a globally recognizable brand. It followed the adventures of Oliver Atom (Tsubasa Ozora in the original Japanese version), a Japanese boy who dreams of succeeding in soccer, alongside his friend Benji Price (Genzō Wakabayashi).
The anime was famous for hyperbolic plays that defied the laws of physics: shots at supersonic speeds, fields that seemed endless, and goals that shattered the nets of the goalposts.
In the anime, Oliver's mentor is Roberto Sedinho, a former Brazilian player of Japanese descent who had to retire early due to an eye condition.
Real life imitated the anime: Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade ('Tostão'), world champion in Mexico 1970 alongside Pelé, had to retire at age 26 due to a double retinal detachment, similar to the fictional character.
The electrifying style of the Blue Samurai (Japan's national team nickname) would not be understood without the Brazilian contribution. Sérgio Echigo, of Japanese descent, was one of the first to arrive in the Asian country in the late 1960s, playing for Yanmar and going down in history as the inventor of the dribble known as "the elastica" (elástica in Portuguese).
The major influx of Brazilians to Japan occurred in the late 1980s, when a plan was implemented to professionalize Japanese football with Brazilian technique as a reference. Zico, Flamengo legend, marked an era in Japan and even coached the national team between 2002 and 2006.
Date and Time
Sunday 06/29/2026
6:00 PM (Houston)
Stadium
NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas, USA
Round
Round of 16
World Cup 2026
Brazil comes from a 3-0 victory over Scotland in the group stage with a probable lineup: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Lucas Paquetá; Rayan, Matheus Cunha, Vini Jr.. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will not have Raphinha available, injured in his right thigh.
The series inspired generations of professional footballers worldwide, including stars like Fernando Torres, Andrés Iniesta, Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi, who have confessed to growing up watching Oliver's adventures and his teammates. In Japan, the manga is considered a catalyst for the country's football development.
Source: Infobae / EFE
Alfredo S. Quiroga
