Anthony Elanga (No. 11) scored the equaliser for Sweden as the team qualified for the 2026 World Cup knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Long after the final whistle, beneath the five Super Bowl championship banners that honour the Dallas Cowboys, Japan supporters were still at work, cleaning the stands in a ritual that has become as much a part of World Cups as the football.

Their team, too, was just as tidy on the pitch as a disciplined 1-1 draw was good enough to book its place in the knockouts.

Daizen Maeda, brought into the side ahead of Junya Ito, showed his industry early, winning the ball in midfield before driving forward on a dazzling run. Only a last-ditch tackle from Gabriel Gudmundsson inside the box stopped the Japanese midfielder’s charge.

With one eye on the other Group F game in Kansas, where the Netherlands compounded Tunisia’s misery with a 3-1 win, Japan was happy to cede possession and rely on quick feet and sharp movement to raid the Swedish defence on the counter. Maeda came close again in the 22nd minute but failed to direct his header after Hiroki Ito had delivered a measured outswinging cross.

With a draw serving the interests of both sides, the game drifted into a lull as the half wore on after the hydration recharge. The sips of energy drink, it seemed, brought more heaviness than haste, adding lethargy to the legs instead of restoring their vigour.

Yet, just as the half meandered towards the interval, Maeda sparked it back to life. He exchanged a neat one-two with Keito Nakamura, who curled an effort beyond the backtracking Victor Lindelof. Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, preferred in goal after Kristoffer Nordfeldt’s five-goal ordeal against the Netherlands, reacted sharply to tip away the shot.

With the first half whistle nearing, there was a sudden spurt of activity as Viktor Gyokeres’s effort was deflected away for a corner on the other side.

Maeda was finally rewarded in the 56th minute, as he reached Ritsu Doan’s pass ahead of Alexander Bernhardsson before placing his finish into the corner, past Zetterstrom.

Sweden’s response was almost immediate as Anthony Elanga ripped a curling left-footed effort from outside the box into the far corner of Zion Suzuki’s goal. The brilliance reduced the Japanese goalkeeper, who reacted a tad late, to a helpless onlooker.

Suzuki, however, had his own moment soon after, producing a sharp save to keep out Alexander Isak. He was again there to deny Elanga and then Isak in quick succession during stoppage time.

At the final whistle, both sides looked relieved as they had achieved what they had come looking for.

Japan finished with its unbeaten record intact, while Sweden recovered from its Dutch bruising, with the result carrying both safely into the last 32 of the competition.

Published on Jun 26, 2026