Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 on Thursday in Arlington, United States, a result that earned both teams a ticket to the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
The match of the third and final round of Group F was almost always evenly matched, even in the scoreline, as former Marítimo player Daizen Maeda put the Japanese ahead in the 56th minute, and Anthony Elanga responded for the Europeans in the 62nd minute.
As the Netherlands defeated Tunisia (3-1), the Asian team finished in second place in the group but may have been less happy than the Nordics, who advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams, since the “prize” is a match against Brazil.
Compared to the second matchday, both national teams introduced three new players: Seko, Sugawara, and Maeda replaced Tomiyasu, Sano, and Ito for Japan, while Zetterström, Stroud, and Elanga came on for Nordfeldt, Karlström, and Nygren for the Swedes.
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With both teams comfortable with the draw, the match started at a slow pace and remained that way for almost the entire first half, with the exception of the final moments.
In the 45th minute, Nakamura, set up by Maeda, forced Zetterström into a great save for a corner near the left post, with a response from Gyökeres, whose shot was intercepted in the 45+3 minute.
The second half began with the teams showing a different determination, particularly the Japanese, who threatened through Tanaka in the 48th minute and took the lead in the 56th minute through Daizen Maeda after a one-two combination between Ueda and Doan.
The Scandinavians’ response did not take long, however, as in the 62nd minute, Elanga cut inside from the right and, from outside the penalty area, hit a cross-shot near the right post, with Suzuki hesitating and failing to reach the ball.
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The game only saw excitement return in the final stage, when Ogawa arrived late to a cross from the right in the 83rd minute, followed on the other side by an initiative from Elanga in the 90+3 minute and a header by Isak against the crossbar in the 90+4 minute.
