Japan draw 1-1 with Sweden at World Cup to finish second in Group F
Key takeaways
- Goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Elanga were enough to see both teams through to the Round of 32.
- Elanga struck six minutes after Daizen Maeda had finished off a team move of the highest quality for Japan, who finish second in the group with five points to set up a last 32 clash with five-time world champions Brazil.
- The Swedes remain third with four points, and that will be enough to secure one of the eight slots available in the next phase for the best third-placed teams across the 12 groups.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Elanga were enough to see both teams through to the Round of 32.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Sweden's forward Anthony Elanga shoots but fails to score next to Japan's defender Hiroki Ito during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on June 25, 2026 [AFP]By Reuters Published On 26 Jun 202626 Jun 2026Sweden salvaged a 1-1 draw with Japan as both sides confirmed their progress to the World Cup knockout rounds after Anthony Elanga curled in a 62nd-minute equaliser to earn his side a share of the points in Group F.
Elanga struck six minutes after Daizen Maeda had finished off a team move of the highest quality for Japan, who finish second in the group with five points to set up a last 32 clash with five-time world champions Brazil.