Japan and Sweden both reach World Cup last 32 after Elanga’s strike seals draw

Japan and Sweden both reach World Cup last 32 after Elanga’s strike seals draw

Japan and Sweden secured berths in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup after playing to a draw at AT&T Stadium in Texas. The result ensures Japan finishes second in Group F with five points, while Sweden advances from third place with four points.

The match began as a sterile affair, characterized by a featureless first half that some observers felt could have been called off at the interval. Early action was limited, save for a stretching save by Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström on a shot from Keita Nakamura just before the half-time whistle. Sweden had entered the game seeking stability after a wildly fluctuating campaign that included a 5-1 win over Tunisia and a 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands.

Japan shifted the momentum in the second half with a goal defined by the collective chemistry and precision of Hajime Moriyasu's side. Ritsu Doan acted as the architect, playing a pass to Ayase Ueda, who held the ball before returning it to Doan. Doan then provided an exquisite first-time pass to Daizen Maeda, who finished unerringly to give Japan the lead.

Sweden responded within six minutes through a moment of individual brilliance from Anthony Elanga. After Viktor Gyökeres made an unselfish run to draw Ao Tanaka away from the action, Elanga took possession on the right, cut inside, and unleashed a curling, left-footed shot from 28.9 meters. The strike bent around goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to level the score.

The goal was the second-longest scored by a Swedish player at a World Cup since 1966, surpassed only by Anders Svensson's 30.2-meter effort in 2002. With the strike, Elanga became the first Swedish player since Martin Dahlin and Kenneth Andersson in 1994 to score in consecutive World Cup matches. Sweden has now scored four goals from outside the box in the 2026 tournament, tying a group stage record set by Brazil in 2006.

Sweden nearly stole the match in added time when Alexander Isak's near-post flick from a corner hit the woodwork after a save by Suzuki. Suzuki's performance throughout the tournament has placed him at the center of discussions regarding the competition's strongest goalkeepers.

For Japan, the draw extends an unbeaten streak against European opposition to 11 games, their longest such run. The team also shares a tournament record with Germany for the most players involved in a goal, with 10 players contributing directly. The match also featured Yuto Nagatomo, who became the first Asian player to appear in five World Cup tournaments.

The result sets up a challenging path for both nations. Japan will face Brazil in Houston on Monday. Japan enters the clash having beaten Brazil 3-2 in Tokyo in October and remaining unbeaten in all competitions since September 2025.

"This is proof of the growth in Japanese football,"

Hajime Moriyasu, Japan manager, via The Guardian

Moriyasu expressed confidence in the matchup, stating that Japan has proven they are not a pushover.

Sweden's path is less certain. While they are definitely through, they must wait to learn their opponent, with potential matchups against France, Germany, or Norway. Graham Potter, Sweden's manager, noted that the result was fair, though he believed his team was slightly better in the second half.

The match was not without casualties. Swedish center-back Isak Hien, who received a yellow card for clipping Ayase Ueda, was forced off the pitch with a hamstring injury and replaced by Lucas Bergvall. Japan also made a defensive change when Ko Itakura was replaced by Shogo Taniguchi.

In other Group F action, the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1 to take top spot in the group and will face Morocco in the next round.