Objectives from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Elanga had been sufficient to see each groups by means of to the Spherical of 32.
Printed On 26 Jun 2026
Sweden salvaged a 1-1 draw with Japan as each side confirmed their progress to the World Cup knockout rounds after Anthony Elanga curled in a 62nd-minute equaliser to earn his facet a share of the factors in Group F.
Elanga struck six minutes after Daizen Maeda had completed off a crew transfer of the very best high quality for Japan, who end second within the group with 5 factors to arrange a final 32 conflict with five-time world champions Brazil.
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The Swedes stay third with 4 factors, and that will probably be sufficient to safe one of many eight slots obtainable within the subsequent part for the very best third-placed groups throughout the 12 teams.
The factors had been shared after a tepid first half that solely confirmed indicators of life moments earlier than the interval on Thursday.
Keito Nakamura went closest to opening the scoring, the Japan winger hitting a low first-time strike from Maeda’s layoff that compelled Jacob Widell Zetterstrom right into a full-stretch save to push the ball round his left put up.
Viktor Gyokeres then discovered house on the different finish to drive in the direction of objective, with a deflection from Shogo Taniguchi looping the ensuing shot properly extensive of the goal.
The Japanese got here out for the second half with intent, with Ao Tanaka’s wayward strike underlining that Hajime Moriyasu’s facet wouldn’t be content material to sit down again and take some extent.
The dynamism of their play was rewarded when Maeda utilized the of entirety to an beautiful crew objective instigated by Ritsu Doan.
The winger obtained a return move from Ayase Ueda as he lower in from the best and slid the ball into the house between the Swedish centre-backs for the unmarked Maeda to stroke his shot house.
Japan’s lead was to final six minutes, nevertheless, as Elanga contributed a high quality end of his personal to equalise, bending a left-foot strike from the nook of the world over the Japanese defence and previous the unsighted Zion Suzuki.
Suzuki needed to be at his sharpest to maintain the scores degree three minutes later with a sprawling save to his left to maintain out Alexander Isak’s try, because the Swedes belatedly began to indicate their attacking high quality.
And the goalkeeper was available to disclaim Isak once more in stoppage time, palming the ahead’s header into the air to substantiate a second-place end for the Japanese.
