Japan face Sweden in their final World Cup group stage clash, an intriguing contest in Arlington, Texas which - on the basis of the two teams’ last two matches - could be a goalfest.
There’s almost everything to play for in Group F, where the top three could all reverse order after the final set of games. The Netherlands lead Japan on goals scored with four points from the first available six while Sweden trail one point behind, with pointless Tunisia already out of the reckoning.
Dark horses Japan thumped underperformers Tunisia 4-0 last time out, while Sweden got a taste of their own medicine as Graham Potter’s side were torn apart 5-1 by the Netherlands, having beaten Tunisia by the same scoreline in their opener.
A draw would be enough for Japan to guarantee a top-two finish and automatic progression to the knockout rounds, but there remains plenty of jeopardy in this group as a defeat for Sweden would leave them looking over their shoulder at other third-placed teams.
Follow latest updates from Japan v Sweden below:
Read MoreWhat do Netherlands, Sweden and Japan need to qualify for the World Cup knockouts from Group F?
Who has qualified for the knockout stages and which teams have been eliminated from the World Cup?
What Japan’s blueprint to win the World Cup by 2050 tells us about football’s future
Japan v Sweden LIVE | World Cup updates
- Japan face Sweden in battle for top two in Group F
- Defeat for Sweden would see them at risk of not making the knockout rounds
- Japan could qualify top of Group F with an emphatic win
- 62' GOAL! Elanga lashes in equaliser minutes after opening goal [JPN 1-1 SWE]
- 56' GOAL! Maeda finishes smartly after probing ball into the box [JPN 1-0 SWE]
- What Japan’s blueprint to win the World Cup by 2050 tells us about football’s future
Group F final standings
02:02 , Alan Smith1 Netherlands +6, 7pts
2 Japan +4, 5pts
3 Sweden 0, 4pts
4 Tunisia -10, 0pts
Three through and two tasty knockout ties confirmed
01:59 , Alan SmithThat means Japan will face Brazil on Monday at 6pm BST in Houston, while Netherlands face Morocco at 2am BST on Tuesday in Monterrey. Sweden are through too - but they must wait to see who their opponent is as a third-placed finisher.
FULL-TIME! Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:58 , Alan SmithIt ends level in Dallas.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:56 , Alan Smith96’ - Seconds are passing by back in Dallas. Japan are passing it about with not the greatest level of urgency seen at this tournament.
FULL-TIME! Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands
01:55 , Alan SmithIt’s over in Kansas City and the Dutch look like they have secured top spot and a tricky meeting with Morocco in Monterrey.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:54 , Alan Smith93’ - Elanga, who has been Sweden’s best player irrespective of the equaliser, gets past Ito and his shout is saved by Suzuki.
From the corner Isak meets the ball at the near post but his header is well saved by Suzuki.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:51 , Alan Smith90’ - Sweden are beginning to gamble a bit more now, committing bodies forward in search of a winner. Neither team need one though and you fear the seven minutes that are being added on will pass by uneventfully.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:49 , Alan Smith87’ - The game has been so despairingly stop-start since the hydration break. The final Sweden changes see Gudmundsson and Lindelof come off. Nygren and Starfelt are on. We’ll have a lot of added time.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:47 , Alan Smith85’ - Lindelof is down with cramp. Players from both teams come across for a drink and some coaching. The referee angrily tells them to cut that out.
Now it looks like Lindelof will need to be subbed off.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:44 , Alan Smith83’ - Japan make their first meaningful foray forward for a while, winning a corner that Ito takes but cannot produce a decent chance from. A few seconds later Kamada puts a ball in from the right but Ogawa’s full-stretch attempt sails harmlessly off target.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:41 , Alan Smith80’ - Now Elanga is fouled deep on the right, three yards from the corner flag. Ayari puts in an outswinger this time and Lagerbielke cannot direct his header goalwards.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:39 , Alan Smith78’ - The free kick is only half-cleared and Sweden try to apply more pressure with Svensson’s deflected attempt going out for a corner. Ayari, having spent a few seconds asking for a ball to kick, swings it in and Suzuki, yet again, gets a glove to it.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:37 , Alan Smith77’ - Gyokeres tries to hold the ball up but Taniguchi lays a foot on the Sweden forward’s right ankle, earning himself a yellow card and giving away a free kick about 30 yards out.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:36 , Alan Smith75’ - Talk about a momentum killer. Changes for both sides now.
Sweden: Sema and Svensson are on for Bernhardsson and Stroud.
Japan: Nakamura and Seko are replaced by Nagatomo and Watanabe.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:35 , Alan Smith74’ - Kamada is shoved over by Bernhardsson near halfway.
Sweden’s adventure appears to have been curtailed. They are dropping back further since the resumption.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:33 , Alan Smith72’ - We’re playing again. Japan perhaps needed the break.
Ito is fouled by Bergvall just after the restart.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:29 , Alan Smith68’ - Here comes the break. More boos.
Elanga appears to be stretching out a bit of cramp.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:28 , Alan Smith66’ - Japan make a double change, moments before the hydration break. Ueda and Doan are off, Ito and Ogawa are off. Doan in particular looks rather upset as he reaches the dugout - no doubt with letting Elanga to cut in for the equaliser.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
01:25 , Alan Smith65’ - Isak goes close. From the edge of the box he side foots low to Suzuki’s left but the goalkeeper gets down well to make a solid save.
GOAL! Japan 1-1 Sweden (Elanga 62)
01:23 , Alan SmithIt’s all happening. This is a beauty from Elanga. He shifts inside from the right and gets half a yard clear of Doan, which is enough to zip a sublime effort in from the corner of the box. Suzuki could maybe have done a bit better but that should take nothing away from the finish.
GOAL! Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands (Van Hecke 63)
01:22 , Alan SmithDim that Japan hope - Van Hecke has just extended Netherlands’ lead in Kansas.
Japan 1-0 Sweden
01:21 , Alan Smith59’ - Sweden are coming back strongly, showing plenty of urgency. They should be fine to progress as a third-placed team as things stand but it is mildly precarious.
Japan, meanwhile, would go top of the group if they can score a second as things stand. Suddenly the game might develop a lot of bite.
GOAL! Japan 1-0 Sweden (Maeda 56)
01:17 , Alan SmithWe did say the game was opening up! Doan finds Maeda’s diagonal run into the box and the finish is clinical, lifted around Zetterstrom.
GOAL! Tunisia 1-2 Netherlands (Mastouri 54)
01:16 , Alan SmithTunisia have pulled one back - Mastouri nodding in from a corner.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
01:14 , Alan Smith53’ - This is beginning to open up. Japan send a succession of crosses in and the final one sees Zetterstrom make a brave point blank stop to deny Kamada - though the offside flag then goes up so it would not have counted anyway.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
01:11 , Alan Smith50’ - Sweden shift to attack immediately and earn themselves a corner via Seko. The set piece goes short initially before Ayari sends a cross in.
Bergvall then takes a shot which is deflected out for another corner. Gudmundsson takes this one and, at the near stick, Lagerbielke heads wide.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
01:10 , Alan Smith48’ - A gap opens in front of Tanaka about 25 yards out but he blasts his shot high and wide.
Restarted! Japan 0-0 Sweden
01:06 , Alan SmithJapan get us going again. It can scarcely be less tepid.
Half-time! Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:50 , Alan Smith50’ - Stroud has a go from a tight angle, Suzuki swallows it comfortably.
An that is the break. File it under tactically intriguing.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:49 , Alan Smith48’ - Gyokeres gets a half-sight of goal after a fortunate deflection into his path. The Arsenal striker’s shot from 25 yards takes two deflections and heads out for a corner.
Ayari takes, Suzuki confidently punches it away.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:46 , Alan Smith45’ - There will be five added minutes.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:45 , Alan Smith45’ - Now there’s a chance. Nakamura curls one goalwards off his right at the end of a neat passing move. Zetterstrom turns it around his post for a corner.
Doan’s inswinger is headed away.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:43 , Alan Smith43’ - It’s becoming so stop start. Bergvall clatters into Doan in clumsy fashion not far from the centre circle.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:42 , Alan Smith42’ - Now Elanga is tripped by Tanaka.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:41 , Alan Smith41’ - Jeers as Doan is called for a foul on Gudmundsson. It is very, very, very soft.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:40 , Alan Smith40’ - Sugawara, from distance, slides a slow shot on target. It is easy for Zetterstrom but that at least means Japan have registered a shot on target.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:39 , Alan Smith39’ - And now a change for Japan as Taniguchi comes on for Itakura, the captain who runs off so is presumably not injured.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:38 , Alan Smith37’ - That’s all for Hien. Bergvall comes on and that means Lindelof will shift back into defence.
Hien looks in absolute agony as he limps alongside the perimeter of the pitch and he has gone back down while waiting for a stretcher having decided the dugout or dressing room was too onerous a trip.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:35 , Alan Smith35’ - Sugawara flings in another cross. Hien goes down while stretching to intercept it and the defender looks in a reasonable amount of bother, enough to require medical attention.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:32 , Alan Smith32’ - Hien is booked for hauling Ueda down just inside the Sweden half as he breaks following a pass from Tanaka.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:29 , Alan Smith31’ - Right now this is only marginally more interesting than England 0-0 Ghana.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:28 , Alan Smith29’ - Elanga attempts to find Ayari but his pass is overhit a touch. Still, it’s a bit more proactive from Sweden.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:27 , Alan Smith27’ - We’ve restarted with a Sweden throw-in.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:24 , Alan Smith24’ - Time for a hydration break in an air-conditioned stadium. Boos ring out. Let’s hope the second quarter improves.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:22 , Alan Smith22’ - Maeda steers a header over having met a cross from the left.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:20 , Alan Smith20’ - Elliot Stroud, the son of an Englishman, is putting himself about in Sweden’s midfield - a combative present they seemed to miss before the Dutch game got away from them at the weekend.
Nakamura tries to thread a ball forward only for the alert Zetterstrom to smother.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:17 , Alan Smith17’ - Sugawara floats a ball in from the right which Zetterstrom claims under no pressure but it came at the end of a move in which Japan got some of those now familiar rotations in.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:15 , Alan Smith15’ - This one is yet to really take off. Japan are now going a little bit longer in the hope of getting past Sweden before they can reset into their low block following forays forward. It has not come off yet but the theory seems sound if Potter’s side will remain so intent on sitting back.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:12 , Alan Smith11’ - Having watched Sweden’s almost 200 minutes of action so far at this World Cup, the jury remains out on whether Gyokeres-Isak works as a partnership. There is just something not quite fluid enough about it despite glimpses of potential.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:09 , Alan Smith9’ - Japan enjoy a decent spell on the ball but Sweden are sitting very deep. As it stands both teams, plus the Dutch, will be heading through. Which isn’t to say our anticipation of there being plenty of goals in this one won’t become reality.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands (Brobbey, 7)
Friday 26 June 2026 00:07 , Alan SmithThe Dutch have another in Kansas - Brobbey converts his third of the tournament, powering home a first-time effort at the end of a free kick routine.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:06 , Alan Smith5’ - Back in Dallas Maeda gets a first run at the Sweden defence but Gudmundsson does a solid job of standing up to him. Japan would like a free kick. The referee tells Maeda to get up and play on.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-1 Netherlands (Skhiri own goal, 3)
Friday 26 June 2026 00:05 , Alan SmithThe Netherlands lead after three minutes in Kansas.
It is an own goal from Skhiri, who cannot deal with a cross from the right.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:04 , Alan Smith3’ - There appears to be a change in shape from Sweden here. Instead of a back three it is a four with the wing backs operating as full backs and Lindelof stepping into defensive midfield. That was a role he carried out several times for Villa towards the end of the club season.
Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:02 , Alan Smith2’ - Ayari delivers the corner and Suzuki punches it away before Sweden win another corner on the opposite side. Gudmundsson puts this one in but cannot beat the first man.
The roof is on in Dallas, where it is just after 6pm local time.
Kick-off! Japan 0-0 Sweden
Friday 26 June 2026 00:00 , Alan Smith1’ - We’re underway in Dallas. Sweden and Isak start, playing right to left as we watch.
And inside 20 seconds midfielder Stroud, making a fourth appearance, wins a corner.
Almost time
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:54 , Alan SmithThe teams are emerging from the Dallas tunnel - one of few in the US stationed on the halfway line - and the stands look packed.
Tunisia v Netherlands to kick-off on time
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:50 , Alan SmithThere were fears earlier on of a storm delay in Kansas City but those fears have passed and both matches will get underway at the same time - 10 minutes from now.
If you missed the earlier action, Ecuador are dark horses again
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:42 , Jack Rathborn in New JerseyEcuador battled, scrapped and clawed their way to this famous World Cup 2026 comeback victory over Germany. A deserved 2-1 win to advance to the knockout stage for the second-ever time and ensure redemption for the maligned coach Sebastian Beccacece. They finish third in Group E, in another blow to Scotland’s hopes of becoming one of the eight third-place teams to advance, with their manager clambering into the stands like he had won Wimbledon in what promises to be a wild New York party.
This was a performance of great intensity, but after failing to score in this tournament after two games; an exquisite finish from Nilson Angulo and a gift from Manuel Neuer sealed the deal here. Once the safest pair of hands in football, the Bayern stopper has been shaky in the United States and his presence further exposes Germany’s unstable World Cup hopes. Julian Nagelsmann’s side wilted under the intense atmosphere, with a third of the estimated 900,000 Ecuadorians in the United States living here in New York, a yellow blaze from the stands willed their team back into the game and past the four-time champions.
Tasked with a tricky scenario, with progress and top spot assured after two wins from two, Nagelsmann resisted rotation and opted for a strong team in pursuit of synergy and momentum. Yet a desperate Ecuador rallied, with Gonzalo Plata’s toe enough to settle this one and pile on the pressure for Neuer and Germany. Only playing after Nagelsmann’s controversial move to ditch Oliver Baumann, despite the Hoffenheim No 1 failing to put a foot wrong. The Germany boss had remarked how Neuer “didn’t need to settle in at his age” and that he could “handle pressure situations." Not here and not during a gripping second half as Ecuador capitalized on his fragile presence, further unsettling a centre-back pairing of Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah, with Nico Schlotterbeck’s absence further felt.
Breathtaking Ecuador become World Cup dark horses to expose Germany’s biggest problem
Sweden's demolition job
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:28 , Alan SmithThe Sweden team, upon arriving at their World Cup base camp, were met with an unexpected scene of demolition, sparking initial confusion.
Players were taken aback to discover mangled metal and construction debris across one side of Toyota Stadium – home of MLS team FC Dallas – during their Wednesday evening training session.
Midfielder Besfort Zeneli told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet: "I just thought, ‘what happened?’ As far as I knew there hadn’t been any storm."
The disarray was, in fact, scheduled construction work, carried out earlier that day as part of a multi-year renovation project at the stadium.
Is there a problem with the 2026 World Cup ball?
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:20 , Will CastleOn numerous instances has the same type of goal flown in during the first two rounds of the group stage. They all relate to rising, driven shots that go above shoulder height, and are often not heading right for the top corner. Goalkeepers are diving across to save these shots and are crucially getting a hand to the ball – but when they make contact, it’s not in the right place and the ball simply passes through, as if they’ve misjudged the flight.
This happened to England’s Jordan Pickford against Croatia, who got to Martin Baturina’s effort but failed to keep it out. Algeria’s Luca Zidane and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy also endured similar goal-allowing incidents in their nations’ openers. Now Iraq’s Ahmed Basil let Kylian Mbappe breach his defences in the same manner, making the distance only to parry the French superstar’s shot further into the corner rather than away from his goal.
You can point the finger at the keepers’ inadequacies if you like, but those in the know think something greater is at play.
“I’m seeing this goal way too many times for a World Cup for there not to be something up with that football,” former England international goalkeeper Joe Hart said in a piece of passionate half-time analysis during France’s 3-0 win over Iraq on Monday night. “As soon as they're not using the curling technique, as soon as that ball is not moving, it's not spinning, the goalkeepers are struggling.”
Is there a problem with the World Cup ball? Why goalkeepers are struggling
How to watch
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:12 , Alan SmithFor those who are trying to watch the match in the UK, action from our featured game will be on BBC One with coverage from 11:50pm BST. The other clash is being broadcast on BBC Two.
Netherlands permutations
Thursday 25 June 2026 23:05 , Alan SmithRonald Koeman’s side will be confident of another win against struggling Tunisia as they pursue top spot and a potentially easier start to the knockouts.
They are all but through and can only drop out of the top two if they lose to Tunisia and Sweden beat Japan by a narrower margin.
Having put five past Sweden last time out, the Dutch would win the tie-breaker against them should they lose and the other match ends level.
Surprise in Group E - and it's not good news for Scotland
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:59 , Alan SmithEcuador have come from a goal down to defeat Germany, who were already guaranteed to finish top, 2-1 in New Jersey and ensure they finish in third with four points - moving them into the last-32, leaving Scotland’s already limited chances of progress hanging by an even thinner thread.
Ivory Coast have beaten Curacao to finish in second place.
Sweden permutations
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:58 , Alan SmithWin and they are through; draw and they should be fine as well. A loss, however, means things could get interesting for Graham Potter’s side because they will be left relying upon other third-place teams having a worse record.
They can only finish top with a win and Netherlands defeat, while a draw would keep them behind Japan but on four points.
Tunisia v Netherlands line-ups
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:53 , Alan SmithWe will keep tabs on the other game from this group throughout and here is how Tunisia, already eliminated, and the Netherlands, all but through, line-up
Tunisia: Dahmen; Valery, Talbi, Abdi, Ben Hamida; Skhiri, Khedira; Slimane, Mejbri, Gharbi; Mastouri.
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Ake; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo.
Japan permutations
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:50 , Alan SmithAvoiding defeat will be enough for Japan to progress in the top two but anything other than a shockingly heavy loss would still see them advance as a third-placed team.
Equally they know that bettering Netherlands’ result against Tunisia would secure first position.
Sweden XI confirmed
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:46 , Alan SmithTillsammans. För en plats i slutspelet. 🇸🇪#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/CFXA6xqtib
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) June 25, 2026
Japan XI confirmed
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:46 , Alan Smith🔹𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗜 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘🔹
— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) June 25, 2026
📝LINE-UP📝
🏆FIFAワールドカップ2026™
🆚スウェーデン代表🇸🇪
1 鈴木彩艶(GK)
2 菅原由勢
4 板倉滉(C)
7 田中碧
10 堂安律
11 前田大然
13 中村敬斗
15 鎌田大地
18 上田綺世
20 瀬古歩夢
21 伊藤洋輝
𝐒𝐔𝐁🔄
12 大迫敬介(GK)
23 早川友基(GK)
3 谷口彰悟
5… pic.twitter.com/w0hPa4WFbB
Tonight's referee...
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:40 , Alan Smithis Ivan Barton, a 35-year-old from El Salvador.
He is the official who sent of Miguel Almiron for covering his mouth with his hand in Paraguay’s win against Turkey.
Sweden predicted XI
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:34 , Alan SmithNordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Elanga, Bergvall, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Gyokeres, Isak
Japan predicted XI
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:28 , Alan SmithSuzuki; Tomiyasu, Itakura, Ito; Doan, Sano, Tanaka, Nakamura; Ito, Kamada, Ueda
Group F as it stands
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:20 , Alex Pattle1. Netherlands (4 points, goal difference 4)
2. Japan (4 points, GD 4)
3. Sweden (3 points, GD 0)
4. Tunisia - eliminated (0 points, GD -8)
Elsewhere this evening!
Thursday 25 June 2026 22:09 , Alex PattleThe other scores so far:
In Group E, Germany and Ecuador are level at 1-1, while Ivory Coast lead Curacao 1-0.
Interview: How Graham Potter led Sweden to the World Cup
Thursday 25 June 2026 21:44 , Alex PattleSweden’s stock may be low in the wake of their 5-1 thrashing by Netherlands, but only a few days prior it had been sky high, when they thrashed Tunisia 5-1 themselves.
Still, their future in the tournament is in the balance, and so is the reputation of their coach Graham Potter, whose own stock has undulated over the years.
Here, he was interviewed by our part-Swede, Lawrence Ostlere:
How Graham Potter led Sweden to the World Cup: ‘It was the best night of my career’
What do Netherlands, Sweden and Japan need to qualify for the knockouts?
Thursday 25 June 2026 21:29 , Alex PattleHere’s everything you need to know about Group F’s knockout round permutations:
What do Netherlands, Sweden and Japan need to qualify for the World Cup knockouts?
What Japan’s blueprint to win the World Cup by 2050 tells us about football’s future
Thursday 25 June 2026 21:14 , Alan SmithJapan believe they have cracked the code to becoming a football superpower and it has everything to do with joy.
Four years ago the JFA released a manifesto outlining exactly how they plan to win the World Cup by 2050. As hosts, no less.
The strategy is filled with the familiar ingredients of pyramid graphics and bullet points, mentions of synergy and talent identification, but the headline that sets The Japan Way apart arrives on the first page.
“To become the happiest country in the world through football.”
Full article:
What Japan’s blueprint to win the World Cup by 2050 tells us about football’s future
Japan v Sweden LIVE: Welcome!
Thursday 25 June 2026 20:59 , Alex PattleJapan face Sweden in their final World Cup group stage clash, an intriguing contest in Arlington, Texas which - on the basis of the two teams’ last two matches - could be a goalfest.
There’s almost everything to play for in Group F, where the top three could all reverse order after the final set of games. The Netherlands lead Japan on goals scored with four points from the first available six while Sweden trail one point behind, with pointless Tunisia already out of the reckoning.
Dark horses Japan thumped underperformers Tunisia 4-0 last time out, while Sweden got a taste of their own medicine as Graham Potter’s side were torn apart 5-1 by the Netherlands, having beaten Tunisia by the same scoreline in their opener.
A draw would be enough for Japan to guarantee a top-two finish and automatic progression to the knockout rounds, but there remains plenty of jeopardy in this group as a defeat for Sweden would leave them looking over their shoulder at other third-placed teams.
Follow latest build-up and updates from Japan v Sweden, right here.
