The knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are now underway.
Just like the players on the field, fans are also getting involved in battles off the field and on social media.
The second Round of 32 clash, which took place at the Houston Stadium, saw two teams who have impressed so far, Brazil and Japan, lock horns.
Though Japan had put in a strong showing so far, Brazil, the most successful nation in FIFA World Cup history, were naturally favourites to progress.
Against the odds, however, it was Japan that took the lead in the game.
After frustrating the Brazilian attack with some disciplined defending in the opening minutes of the game, Kaishu Sano took advantage of some sloppy Brazilian defending just after the hydration break, opening the scoring with a brilliant low shot from outside the box.
The first half ended without Brazil being able to create much, and it looked like the Japanese game plan was going to work perfectly.
However, the Canarinho came out with a marked increase in intensity in the second half, and soon levelled the game with a bullet header from Casemiro.
For the rest of the half, it was mostly attack vs defence, save for a few glimmers of hope on the counter for the Samurai.
The game was ultimately decided with a last-gasp moment of quality from super sub Gabriel Martinelli, who sent his team into the Round of 16 with an expertly placed finish in the 96th minute, breaking Japanese hearts.
The full time whistle ended a match which saw one of the wildest builds up we had ever witnessed.
On social media, the prematch banter between the fans of both nations was anything but ordinary. Both Brazil and Japan fans didn’t back away from using the darkest aspects of both countries to score internet points.
While both fanbases had been making a number of jokes about each other’s countries and cultures over the past few days, one darker topic stood out – Japan’s infamous Aokigahara Forest.
Almost instantly after the game ended, the same reference was made on X but albeit in a different manner, using a Sol Campbell clip.
One fan directed a joke at Japanese fans, claiming Sol Campbell’s quote from 20 March, 2025’s episode of “The Overlap” sums up their thoughts at the moment.
In the clip, Campbell said “I’m actually thinking about going Forest”, where he was referring to going to Nottingham Forest at the end of his career.
Japanese fans after going out in the 95th minute pic.twitter.com/OhYdyVFrRr
— Billie (@Billie_T) June 30, 2026
Also known as the “Sea Of Trees”, Aokigahara Forest is a forest located on the northwestern flank of Mount Fuji on the island of Honshu in Japan.
Though the area boasts plenty of natural beauty, it is known for it’s dark past. Over the years, it has earned a tragic reputation as one of the world’s most frequently used suicide sites. It is unfortunately so common for people to take their own lives there, that Japanese authorities have even set up signs featuring hotline numbers and messages imploring visitors to seek help.
Several fans were quick to point this out on social media.
Incidentally, this is not the first time this forest has been brought up in popular social media circles on the internet.
In December 2017, well-known YouTuber Logan Paul sparked global controversy by uploading a YouTube vlog filmed in the same forest. The video showed uncensored footage of a man who had died by suicide, while Paul and his friends laughed in the background.
The video led to outrage all over the world, as many called out Paul for his tone-deaf treatment of suicide and mental health in a country like Japan, which has the 49th-highest suicide rate in the world, much higher than any other developed country.
Soon after, Paul issued a written apology, before also uploading a video apology, expressing remorse for his actions.
