Japan Draws 1-1 with Sweden to Finish Second in Group F, Set to Clash with Brazil in Round of 32

The Japanese national football team secured its spot in the Round of 32 with an undefeated run (1 win, 2 draws) after playing to a draw against Sweden in their final group stage match of the 2026 World Cup.

Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden in their final Group F match on Friday at Dallas Stadium in Texas, United States.

With the draw, Japan finished second in the group with 1 win and 2 draws (5 points), behind the Netherlands (2 wins, 1 draw, 7 points), who secured the top spot in the group by defeating Tunisia (3 losses, 0 points) 3-1 on the same day.

Sweden (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, 4 points) finished third in the group.

As a result, while the Netherlands and Japan advanced to the Round of 32 as the top two teams in Group F, Sweden also joined them in the knockout stage by ranking at the top among the third-placed teams.

South Korea placed fifth in the rankings of third-placed teams.

In the Round of 32, Japan will face powerhouse Brazil, who is chasing a sixth World Cup title, presenting the toughest hurdle yet in their bid to reach the Round of 16.

Group winners Netherlands will face Morocco in the Round of 32.

Japan displayed its trademark organized football against a formidable Sweden side, but lacked the sharpness they showed in their first two matches.

After conceding the first shot of the match to Sweden's Alexander Bernhardsson in the sixth minute, Japan struggled to capitalize on their chances, with Daizen Maeda's header in front of the goal going wide in the 22nd minute.

In the 45th minute, Keito Nakamura's right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area headed toward the bottom right corner of the Swedish goal, but it was frustratingly denied by a diving save from the Swedish goalkeeper.


After a scoreless first half, Japan finally broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, with Maeda scoring the opening goal.

Maeda latched onto a killer pass from Ritsu Doan in midfield, surged into the center of the penalty area, and found the back of the net with a right-footed strike to break Sweden's stubborn defense.

However, Japan's joy was short-lived.

In the 62nd minute, Sweden leveled the score when Anthony Elanga unleashed a surprise left-footed long-range shot from the right corner of the penalty area that flew into the bottom left corner of the Japanese net.

In the 75th minute, Japan brought on 39-year-old veteran Yuto Nagatomo from the bench as a left wingback.

Making his first appearance of the tournament, Nagatomo marked his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, a streak that began at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Japan held off Sweden's intense pressure during second-half stoppage time to secure the draw.

Facing Tunisia, who had already been eliminated from the group stage, the Netherlands dominated the match, scoring early in the first half.

The Netherlands took the lead just three minutes into the match through an own goal.

Denzel Dumfries attempted a cross from near the right side of the penalty area, and Tunisia's center-back Ellyes Skhiri accidentally deflected it into his own net while trying to clear it with his left foot.

Having scored early, the Netherlands extended their lead in the seventh minute when Virgil van Dijk headed down a free kick delivered from near the right side of the penalty arc, allowing Brian Brobbey to volley it home with his right foot from the right side of the goal area.

The Netherlands, who dominated Tunisia with 12 shots in the first half alone, ended the half leading 2-0.

Tunisia pulled one back shortly after the start of the second half.

In the 54th minute, Tunisia launched a comeback when lone striker Hazem Mastouri headed home from the center of the goal area following a corner kick from the right.

However, the Netherlands sealed their 3-1 victory in the 62nd minute when Jan Paul van Hecke headed home from the left side of the goal area off a corner kick from the left.

Meanwhile, the match was refereed by Katia Itzel Garcia, a female referee from Mexico.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.