DALLAS — Japan secured their passage to the World Cup last 32 on Thursday, holding Sweden to a 1-1 draw at Dallas Stadium. The result saw Hajime Moriyasu's side finish second in Group F with five points, behind the Netherlands, and earned them a knockout-stage meeting with defending champions Brazil.
Sweden, who took third place with four points, also advanced as one of the eight highest-ranked third-placed teams across the 12 groups — a resilient response after their heavy 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their previous outing.
Anthony Elanga pulled Sweden level just six minutes after Daizen Maeda had broken the deadlock with a brilliantly crafted finish for Japan. The Swedish forward, handed a start by coach Graham Potter, fired a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the box that sailed over the Japan defence and beyond goalkeeper Zion Suzuki's reach.
"I felt throughout the match that I wanted to make something happen," said Elanga. "I'm grateful to Graham for the trust he's shown in me from the very beginning. Of course I wanted to win, but everyone kept telling me that a point was all we needed. I'm thrilled we're through, and we'll need to raise our game for the next round."
The first half offered little excitement until its closing stages. Japan's Keito Nakamura came closest, unleashing a crisp first-time shot from Maeda's pass that forced Swedish keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to dive full-stretch and push the ball around his post. At the other end, Viktor Gyokeres drove forward and saw his deflected effort loop harmlessly wide after a touch from Shogo Taniguchi.
Japan emerged with greater urgency after the break, with Ao Tanaka's ambitious strike signalling their intent to push for a winner. Their attacking spark paid off when Maeda capped off a stunning team move. Ritsu Doan, cutting in from the right, exchanged passes with Ayase Ueda before slipping the ball between the Swedish centre-backs for Maeda to slot calmly home.
Sweden's response was swift. Elanga's exquisite equaliser came minutes later, restoring parity with a bending strike from the corner of the penalty area.
Suzuki then kept Japan's hopes alive with two crucial saves. He denied Alexander Isak with a sprawling stop to his left, and deep into stoppage time, tipped the striker's header onto the crossbar to ensure Japan held on for the point they needed to confirm their runners-up spot.
