Who are the ITV commentators, pundits and presenters for Brazil vs Japan?

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 29: Players line up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images) — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Brazil's bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup title reaches the knockout stages on Monday evening.

Carlo Ancelotti's side topped Group C, ahead of 2022 semi-finalists Morocco and will be pitted against a Japan side who finished as runners-up behind the Netherlands in Group F.

This will be the 14th meeting between the two sides, with Japan having claimed just a single victory over the Selecao, which came when the teams met last October.

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ITV's complete line-up of commentators, pundits and presenters for Brazil vs Japan

The match kicked off at 6pm UK time, with live coverage available on ITV1 and online at ITVX. Mark Pougatch will be at the helm in the ITV studio, where he is joined by a heavyweigh panel of pundits: Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, who have kissed and made up since their high-profile on pitch clashes in the late 90s, and Ange Postecoglou who managed in Japan successfully for a number of years.

LEEDS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Lee Dixon, TV Presenter and Former Arsenal and England footballer looks on prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on September 12, 2021 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) — Lee Dixon will be in the commentary box (Image credit: Getty Images)

ITV's lead commentator Sam Matterface will be up on the gantry at the NRG Stadium in Houston, which usually houses the NFL's Houston Texans.

Matterface will be joined by his usual partner-in-crime for this one, as former Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon will be on co-commentary duties.

The winners of this tie will face the victors of Tuesday night's Ivory Coast vs Norway match in the last-16 on Sunday evening.

Sam Matterface will be in the commentary box (Image credit: Getty Images)

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For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.