[Match News]Group F Japan vs Sweden | FIFA World Cup (Soccer World Cup) 2026 On the 26th, the Japanese national soccer team (ranked 17th in the FIFA rankings) played against the Swedish national team (ranked 36th in the FIFA World Cup) in the third round of Group F of the FIFA World Cup, drawing 1-1. As a result, Japan earned 1 point and finished in 2nd place in Group F with a total of 5 points, advancing to the final tournament for the third time in a row. In the first round of the final tournament, they will face Group C leader Brazil. Japan National Team draws 1-1 with Sweden, passes 2nd place in Group F, and faces Brazil in the first match of the finals[Soccer World Cup]Japan draws with the Netherlands 2-2 in the first match, and comfortably defeats Tunisia 4-0 in the second round. The final match, in which both teams fought to take the lead, lasted 90 minutes with neither team yielding. In the first half, both teams played cautiously, but Japan displayed tenacious defense against Sweden’s powerful offensive line. In the 39th minute of the first half, captain Akira Itakura was injured and was substituted, but the defense was rebuilt with Shogo Taniguchi coming on as a substitute. On the other hand, Keito Nakamura and Yusei Sugawara approached the goal in the attack, but they were blocked by the good defense of the opposing goalkeeper Zetterstrom, and the first half ended scoreless. Japan National Team draws 1-1 with Sweden After passing 2nd place in Group F, the first match of the final T will be a clash with Brazil[Soccer World Cup]It was Japan who broke the deadlock. In the 11th minute of the second half, Ritsu Doan took a vertical pass from Yusei Sugawara as the starting point, and Kiyo Ueda collected the ball and dropped it to Doan again. Doan sent an exquisite through ball to the center of the penalty area with one touch, and Daenen Maeda, who escaped with his right foot, slotted it into the left side of the goal to take the long-awaited opening goal. Japan National Team draws 1-1 with Sweden, passes 2nd place in Group F and faces Brazil in the first match of the final[Soccer World Cup]Anthony Eranga PHOTO:Getty Images However, Sweden quickly fought back. In the 17th minute of the second half, Anthony Elanga received the ball deep on the right side, cut inside from a one-on-one with Ritsu Doan, and flashed his left foot from near the right corner of the penalty area. He fired a brilliantly controlled shot into the left corner of the goal, bringing the game back to square one. Manager Hajime Moriyasu replaced Doan and Ueda in the 21st minute of the second half and brought in Junya Ito and Koki Ogawa. Furthermore, in the same 30 minutes, Yuto Nagatomo and Tsuyoshi Watanabe were sent out in place of Keito Nakamura and Ayumu Seko. Nagatomo is making his first appearance in this tournament, becoming the first Japanese player in history to participate in five consecutive World Cups. In the final stages, Sweden faced a fierce attack. In the 48th minute of the second half, goalkeeper Ayane Suzuki made a good save to block Elanga’s decisive shot. Furthermore, in the 49th minute corner kick, Suzuki again made a big save and defended Japan’s goal. Japan also tried to take the lead until the end, with Nagatomo breaking through the left side and delivering a cross in additional time, but no goal was scored and the match ended at 1-1. The Netherlands won the match between Tunisia and Tunisia at the same time, with the Netherlands winning 3-1, leaving Japan in 2nd place in Group F with 5 points and advancing to the final tournament. In the round of 32, they will face Group C leader Brazil.
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