Anthony Elanga (left) scored a stunning equaliser for Sweden within six minutes of his team conceding the opening goal against Japan. | Photo Credit: AP

Sweden and Japan shared spoils in their final group-stage match at the FIFA World Cup 2026, yet qualified for the round of 32 of the tournament in Dallas on Thursday.

Daizen Maeda opened the scoring for the Samurai Blue in the 56th minute before Anthony Elanga equalised with a brilliant strike from outside the box six minutes later.

Sweden, which reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2018, failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 and earned a spot in the 2026 edition under former Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter.

Meanwhile, for Japan, it was a third consecutive qualification into World Cup knockouts.

Sweden vs Japan player ratings

Japan: Zion Suzuki (6.5), Kō Itakura (6.4), Ayumu Seko (6.0), Hiroki Ito (6.9); Yukinari Sugawara (7.2), Ritsu Dōan (7.7), Daichi Kamada (7.3), Ao Tanaka (7.6), Keito Nakamura (7.4), Daisen Maeda (8.0), Ayase Ueda (6.1)

Substitutes: Yūto Nagatomo (6.0), Shōgo Taniguchi (6.0), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (6.0), Junya Itō (6.2), Kōki Ogawa (6.1)

Sweden: Jacob Widell Zetterström (6.9), Gustaf Lagerbielke (6.8), Victor Lindelöf (6.4), Gabriel Gudmundsson (6.8), Isak Hien (6.5), Alexander Bernhardsson (6.6), Elliot Stroud (6.5), Yasin Ayari (6.8), Anthony Elanga (8.0), Alexander Isak (6.8), Viktor Gyökeres (6.9)

Substitutes: Daniel Svensson (6.0), Ken Sema (6.0), Carl Starfelt (6.0), Lucas Bergvall (6.4), Benjamin Nygren (5.9)

Published on Jun 26, 2026