Japan v Sweden World Cup 2026

Japan v Sweden, World Cup 2026

Japan and Sweden played out a 1-1 draw in their Group E game at Dallas Stadium, a result which means both teams will progress to the knockout stages. The Blue Samurai were second in the group behind The Netherlands and will face Brazil in Houston whereas Graham Potter's Sweden were one of the best third-place teams and will meet one of France, Norway, Germany or Switzerland.

Celtic's Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the second half for Japan after a lacklustre first half in the Texas heat. Newcastle United's Anthony Elanga equalized with a superb shot from the edge of the box, after which the game again fizzled out somewhat, though Sweden came the closest with some late chances well saved by Zion Suzuki.

Lineups

Japan (3-4-2-1): GK: Zion Suzuki; DF: Ko Itakura, Ayumu Seko, Hiroki Ito; MF: Yukinari Sugawara, Daichi Kamada, Ao Tanaka, Keito Nakamura; FW: Ritsu Doan, Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda

Coach: Hajime Moriyasu.

Sweden (3-4-3): GK: Oliver Widell Zetterström; DF: Gustaf Lagerbielke, Isak Hien, Victor Lindelöf; MF: Alex Bernhardsson, Daniel Stroud, Yasin Ayari, Gabriel Gudmundsson; FW: Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyökeres, Alexander Isak

Coach: Graham Potter.

Goals: Daizen Maeda (56'); Anthony Elanga (62').

Yellow cards: Isak Hien, Viktor Gyökeres; Shōgo Taniguchi

Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador)

Attendance: 70,137