JAPAN and Sweden both secured places in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their decisive Group F encounter at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The result ensured Japan finished second in the group with five points, setting up a blockbuster Round of 32 clash against Brazil in Houston on Monday.
Sweden progressed as one of the qualified teams from the group after finishing third with four points and are expected to meet France in New York in the next round.
The stalemate completed an eventful conclusion to Group F, where the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1 to claim top spot and book a meeting with Morocco in the knockout stage.
Both Japan and Sweden entered the final round of fixtures with qualification still hanging in the balance, but neither side allowed the occasion to overwhelm them as they produced an evenly contested encounter featuring two well-taken goals.
Japan required only a draw to guarantee an automatic place in the knockout rounds and successfully achieved their objective, capping an impressive group-stage campaign that included a commanding 4-0 victory over Tunisia.
Sweden also demonstrated resilience after suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their previous outing, collecting the point they needed to continue their World Cup journey.
The final Group F standings saw the Netherlands finish first, Japan second and Sweden third, with all three nations progressing to the knockout phase, while Tunisia exited the tournament without a point.
Japan will now prepare for one of the competition's most demanding tests against five-time world champions Brazil, while Sweden awaits confirmation of their Round of 32 opponents as they seek to extend an already impressive campaign beyond the group stage. - June 26, 2026
