Dallas: Japan and Sweden secure World Cup last 32 spots after draw

By Callum Ashford — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Japan and Sweden advance

Japan and Sweden have both secured their places in the World Cup round of 32 following a 1-1 draw in their final Group F match. The result, played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, saw Japan finish second in their group, while Sweden qualified as a third-placed team. The match saw a second-half surge of activity after a largely uneventful first half, with both teams ultimately benefiting from the shared points.

Daizen Maeda opened the scoring for Japan ten minutes into the second half, following intricate play on the edge of Sweden’s penalty area. However, Anthony Elanga quickly equalised for Sweden seven minutes later with a curled left-footed shot. This goal marked Elanga’s second in two World Cup matches, securing a crucial point for Graham Potter’s side.

Match highlights and key moments

The first half of the match was described as featureless, with neither team creating many clear-cut opportunities. Early exchanges saw Alexander Bernhardsson test Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, but the overall pace was lukewarm. Japan’s Celtic forward Maeda had a header off target, and Sweden’s Isak Hein received a yellow card for clipping an opponent during a break. Hein was later replaced by Lucas Bergvall after appearing to overstretch and clutching his hamstring. Japan also made a substitution, with Ko Itakura being replaced by Shogo Taniguchi.

The second half, however, saw an immediate increase in tempo. Japan’s renewed pace initially flustered Sweden, leading to Daichi Kamada having a shot saved by Jacob Widell Zetterström. Maeda’s goal, described as a result of scalpel-like precision, came from a pass by Ritsu Doan to Ayase Ueda, who then returned it to Doan, setting up Maeda for the finish.

Elanga’s equaliser came from an ambitious angle, bending around Suzuki after Viktor Gyökeres had drawn Ao Tanaka away from the play. Later in the half, Alexander Isak forced a save from Suzuki and then hit the bar from a corner in added time, as Sweden pressed for a winner. Despite these late efforts, the match concluded in a draw, which proved sufficient for both nations to progress.

What’s next for the qualified teams

With their qualification confirmed, Japan will advance to face Brazil in Houston, Texas, on Monday, June 29, with a kick-off scheduled for 6pm. Sweden, having qualified as a third-placed team, faces a more varied set of potential opponents. Their next match will take place on Tuesday, June 30, in New Jersey, New York, with a 10pm kick-off. Sweden could potentially face Germany, the winners of Group I, or other teams such as Mexico, USA, or Switzerland, depending on the final qualification standings of other third-placed teams. However, their opponent is most likely to be the Group I winners, which will be either France or Norway.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, features an expanded format with 48 participating nations and a total of 104 games. The tournament’s group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, with the knockout stage, including the first-ever Round of 32, beginning on June 28.

Source: theguardian.com