Japan vs Sweden — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-948CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026

Japan

1–1

Sweden

Match events

Ko ItakuraOn: Shogo Taniguchi39'
Daizen Maedaassist Ritsu Doan56'1–0
Ayase UedaOn: Koki Ogawa66'
Ritsu DoanOn: Junya Ito67'
Keito NakamuraOn: Yuto Nagatomo75'
Ayumu SekoOn: Tsuyoshi Watanabe75'
Shogo Taniguchi77'

32'Isak Hien
37'Isak HienOn: Lucas Bergvall
1–162'Anthony Elangaassist Viktor Gyökeres
75'Alexander BernhardssonOn: Daniel Svensson
75'Elliot StroudOn: Ken Sema
85'Viktor Gyökeres
87'Victor LindelöfOn: Carl Starfelt
88'Gabriel GudmundssonOn: Benjamin Nygren

JPNMatch statsSWE

52%Possession48%

8Shots11

3Shots on Target5

2Corners8

20Fouls11

1Yellow Cards2

0Red Cards0

—

Japan — starting XI

3-4-3

Bench

3S. Taniguchi
5Y. Nagatomo
14J. Ito
22T. Tomiyasu
19Koki Ogawa
12K. Osako
24K. Sano
16T. Watanabe
17Y. Suzuki
23T. Hayakawa
25J. Suzuki
9K. Goto
26K. Shiogai
6S. Machino

Sweden — starting XI

3-4-1-2

Bench

22B. Zeneli
7L. Bergvall
8D. Svensson
6H. Johansson
26T. Ali
10B. Nygren
12V. Johansson
14H. Ekdal
19M. Svanberg
25G. Nilsson
20E. Smith
15C. Starfelt
13K. Sema
16J. Karlström
23K. Nordfeldt

All-time meetings

Japan wins

Draws

Sweden wins

02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

27.8

Average Age

27.6

03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

Japan

Jun 25

vs Sweden

World Cup · Group Stage - 3 · AT&T Stadium

1–1

Jun 21

at Tunisia

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · Estadio BBVA

4–0

Jun 14

at Netherlands

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · AT&T Stadium

2–2

May 31

vs Iceland

Friendlies · Friendly International · New National Stadium

1–0

Mar 31

at England

Friendlies · Friendly International · Wembley Stadium

1–0

Sweden

Jun 25

at Japan

World Cup · Group Stage - 3 · AT&T Stadium

1–1

Jun 20

at Netherlands

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · NRG Stadium

1–5

Jun 15

vs Tunisia

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · Estadio BBVA

5–1

Jun 4

vs Greece

Friendlies · Friendly International · Strawberry Arena

2–2

Jun 1

at Norway

Friendlies · Friendly International · Ullevaal

1–3

05 · Key Battles

Three duels that decide it.

// Midfield maestros · Dōan vs Bergvall

Two playmakers at opposite ends of their career arc. Dōan's experience and technical security will be tested by Bergvall's pressing intensity and modern positional intelligence. Whoever controls the tempo wins the midfield battle.

// Right flank chaos · Ito's pace vs Lagerbielke's positioning

Ito's directness and dribbling threat will keep the Swedish full-back honest on the touchline. Lagerbielke's recovery pace and concentration must prevent the winger creating overloads; one lapse could prove costly in a tight group match.

// Centre-back reckoning · Watanabe vs Gyökeres

Gyökeres' physical power and movement off the ball will demand perfect positioning from Watanabe, who must stay compact and use his defensive discipline. One misjudgement against Sporting's prolific forward could tip the balance.

06 · Style Clash

Japan's Precision vs Sweden's Pressure

Japan's methodical, possession-heavy system meets Sweden's aggressive counterpressing in a tactical duel between East Asian composure and Nordic physicality.

// Structured discipline and patient possession

Japan

// Direct intensity and physical press

Sweden

methodical

Build-up tempo

aggressive

compact

Defensive shape

pressing

creative

Wing utilization