Japan, Sweden Advance to World Cup Last 32 After 1-1 Draw
Full Time: Japan 1-1 Sweden
Japan and Sweden booked their places in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 after playing out a 1-1 draw in their final Group F match on Thursday.
Japan struck first through Daizen Maeda, who gave the Samurai Blue an early advantage. However, Sweden responded just six minutes later when Anthony Elanga found the equalizer, ensuring both sides secured the point they needed to progress to the knockout stage.
The result marks Japan’s third consecutive appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds and the fifth time in seven tournaments that the Asian side has advanced beyond the group stage since reaching the Round of 16 as co-hosts in 2002. Japan finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands and will face Brazil in Houston on Monday.
Sweden also continued its impressive World Cup record, advancing to the knockout stage for the fourth consecutive tournament in which it has qualified. The Scandinavian side last reached the semifinals in 1994, the previous time the United States hosted the FIFA World Cup.
Maeda’s goal was Japan’s seventh of the tournament, setting a new national record for goals scored in a single World Cup campaign. The previous best of six goals was achieved during Japan’s run to the Round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
