JapanvsSweden

Japan and Sweden drew 1–1. Goalscorers — Japan: Daizen Maeda 56'; Sweden: Anthony Elanga 62'.

Japan met Sweden in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on Thursday, June 25, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group F, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

Japan go in ranked 18th in the FIFA World Ranking to Sweden's 38th — a gap of 20 places that gives Japan the edge on paper. It is an inter-confederation meeting — Japan of AFC against Sweden of UEFA — the kind of contrast in styles the World Cup exists to stage.

Japan arrive at the 2026 World Cup as Asia's strongest representative and a team that has demonstrated they can compete with the very best in the world. The Samurai Blue stunned both Germany and Spain in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, showcasing a level of tactical sophistication and technical quality that has been decades in the making.

Sweden are a traditionally strong European side who reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2018 and have a proud history of producing top-class players. The Blagult play a direct, physical style with excellent set-piece delivery and a well-organized defensive structure.

Japan: Japan's best World Cup result was reaching the round of 16, which they have achieved four times: in 2002 as co-hosts, 2010, 2018, and 2022. Sweden: Sweden have appeared at twelve World Cups, with their best result being runners-up in 1958 as hosts, losing to Brazil in the final.

The match is scheduled at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, United States. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 11:00 PM (07:00 PM ET).