England vs Belgium was a thriller, one of the best games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament so far.

But the next day, the tournament continued, and it was the turn of another tournament favorite… France.

[FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 32]

[Match 7: France vs Japan]

[Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA]

[Date: July 3rd, 2026]

[Kick-off: 17:00 local time]

[Referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)]

The weather at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas was humid and heated, both in climate and in emotion.

It was dubbed the Brave Blossoms vs the Blue Juggernaut: A Tale of Daring Resistance.

The question was, did Japan actually have what it takes to write a tale of a daring resistance?

No one gave Japan a chance.

Facing the reigning World Cup finalists and arguably the most talent-rich squad in the world, Japan entered the stadium with humility, but also with a quiet flame of fervor and ambition.

France, led by the unstoppable Kylian Mbappe were tournament favourites.

But for 90 minutes in Houston, Japan refused to bow.

France started in a 4-2-3-1, Mike Maignan in goal, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, and Theo Hernandez.

In midfield was the duo of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot.

The attack comprised Ousmane Dembele down the right, Michael Olise down the middle as the attacking midfielder, Desire Doue on the left as the left winger, and Kylian Mbappe leading the line as the striker.

In contrast, Japan started in a 4-3-3 formation with Daniel Schmidt in goal, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Sugawara, Itakura, Tomiyasu, and Nagatomo.

In midfield was the trio of Tanaka, Morita, and Kamada, while in attack was the dynamic trio of Doan, Asano, and Kubo.

It was a fearsome Japanese side.

But in front of the French national football team, they looked like a lion cub shrieking in front of a roaring adult Lion.

FWEEE!

The game started.

The atmosphere was electric as French fans sang at the top of their lungs, dwarfing the little Japanese voices in the stadium.

They were literally bullying the Japanese fans.

The game began with the usual French control, feeding the ego and euphoria of their fans… but then, the first jolt.

BAM!

GOAL! Japan, from Ritsu Doan.

It all started from a turnover by Rabiot in midfield.

Tanaka slipped it wide, and Doan cut inside with the ball, curling a beauty past Mike Maignan's fingertips.

France 0-1 Japan.

Just like that.

The stadium gasped.

It took a few seconds for the Japanese fans to respond and realize what just happened, and when they did, the stadium exploded.

BOOM!

It was all Japanese for a few unforgettable seconds.

But then, France responded with power. Kylian Mbappe began to shift gears, leading the French side, and pumping them on to unleash their true potential.

Then…

BAM!

They struck.

21st minute, Kylian Mbappe.

He cut through three defenders like paper, then smashed it into the roof of the net in ruthless fashion.

1-1. A King's answer.

But Japan wouldn't fold.

In the 39th minute of the game, they came close, Kubo unleashing a low shot from the edge of the box that stung Maignan's palms.

France were being tested. Loudly.

The knockouts always had this energy that came with them, and tonight was not any different for the French.

The first half came to an end 1-1.

The second half soon started, the tide and the crack.

France turned up the tempo. Michael Olise dropped deep, Hernandez overlapped constantly, and Mbappe began demanding everything.

And then, in the 52nd minute of the game, France finally found the lead they've been seeking all game.

BAM!

Desire Doue struck for the French.

Olise fed him with a no-look pass. The winger's finish was clinical, low and across goal, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

2-1 France.

And yet, France's lead didn't last.

Japan struck back in the 59th minute of the game, and it was Takefusa Kubo who did it with an incredible shot from range.

Kamada intercepted Tchouameni, ran 30 yards, and slid Kudo in. The winger went near post.

2-2! Spot# an e$r^r.o!r? V.is&it the ori!g$ina%l p#o#s&t$ on M$V+LEM$P^Y.R@.

BOOM!

The stadium exploded, Japanese fans finding their voice again.

Japan had equalized again.

The French coach sent on Marcus Thuram and Coman. It was time to press the hammer down.

And then, Kylian Mbappe struck again, this time in the 71st minute.

Coman to Olise, and Olise chipped the ball to the back post, where Mbappe lurked. Mbappe leapt, hovered, and headed it across goal and in.

3-2 France.

That was the dagger.

In the final minutes of the game, the Japanese players wore their hearts on their sleeves, playing with passion and exuberant energy.

Japan poured forward. Maignan saved from Asano in the 88th minute. Doan hit the side netting in the 92nd minute.

They threw everything they had to get the equalizer.

But France held. Just barely.

[FULL-TIME: France 3-2 Japan]

It was a magnificent effort from the Blue Samurai, but France's brilliance, and Mbappe's stardust proved too much.

Without debate, Kylian Mbappe won the man of the match award with his 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 dribbles, and 4 shots on target.

The commentators raved by the end of the game:

"He's not just fast. He's not just technical. He's inevitable, like a hurricane".

The post-match reactions to the game were crazy. Like other games of the Round of 32, Japan came close to pulling the underdog clutch moment, but they just fell short at the last moment.

Mbappe had a few words for the media at the end of the game.

"Respect to Japan. They gave us hell, we just didn't see it coming. But we're France. We know how to survive hell".

Hajime Moriyasu, the Japanese coach also faced the media at the end of the game to say his piece.

"We pushed giants to the edge. I'm proud. This is not defeat, it's a beginning".

And of course, the French coach also had a few words.

"That was a war. But wars are won by moments. And we had Mbappe".

France moved on to the Round of 16.