Japan and Sweden will battle for a place in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage when they meet at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday.
Japan head into the fixture full of confidence after producing a historic performance against Tunisia, becoming the first Asian team to score four goals in a single World Cup match. Ayase Ueda starred with two goals and an assist, while Daichi Kamada continued his excellent tournament form with another goal.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side are unbeaten in their last nine matches and have already defeated major opponents such as Brazil and England during that run. With four points from two matches, Japan will secure a top-two finish with a draw, while victory could see them finish top of Group F.
Sweden suffered a major setback after losing heavily to the Netherlands following their impressive 5-1 opening victory over Tunisia. The defeat ended their hopes of securing early qualification and exposed defensive weaknesses against elite opposition.
Graham Potter’s side still remain in a strong position, with three points on the board, and a draw is likely to be enough to send them through. Their hopes will depend heavily on the attacking partnership of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, who have provided a major threat throughout the tournament.
Team News
Japan will miss captain Wataru Endo, while Takefusa Kubo remains doubtful after suffering a knee injury. Shuto Machino is also unavailable due to illness.
Sweden could make attacking changes, with Anthony Elanga pushing for a start after scoring from the bench against the Netherlands. Lucas Bergvall is also an option for midfield.
Posssible Lineups
Japan possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Itakura, Ito; Doan, Sano, Tanaka, Nakamura; Ito, Kamada, Ueda
Sweden possible starting lineup:
Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Elanga, Bergvall, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Gyokeres, Isak
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 00:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Japan 2-1 Sweden.
Japan’s form and attacking confidence make them favourites, but Sweden’s quality in attack could cause problems.
