Japan - Sweden: score, highlights and statistics

Japan and Sweden meet in a decisive Group F encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - a match that could determine which side advances to the round of 32 of the expanded 48-team tournament.

Match Info: Japan vs Sweden

Japan vs Sweden kicks off at midnight BST on 26 June 2026 (23:00 UTC on 25 June), with the match taking place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Dallas, Texas, as the third and final group-stage game in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Where to Watch Japan vs Sweden?

Viewers in the United States can watch the match on Fox Sports 1 and UNIVERSO on TV, or stream it via FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, Peacock, UNIVERSO NOW, and Futbol de Primera Radio online.

In Japan, the game is broadcast on NHK (TV) and streamed through DAZN Japan. Canadian fans can watch on TSN+, Australian fans via SBS On Demand, and New Zealand fans through TVNZ+.

Across Europe, the match is available on DAZN España (Spain), DAZN Italia (Italy), and beIN SPORTS CONNECT (France). Polish viewers can watch on TVP 1 on free-to-air TV, or stream via sport.tvp.pl and the TVP Sport App. In South America, Argentine fans can tune into DIRECTV Sports Argentina (TV) or DIRECTV GO online, while Brazilian fans stream via CazéTV, and Mexican viewers via VIX.

Japan vs Sweden - Match Preview

Japan vs Sweden is the third and final group-stage match for both sides in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - a clash between Japan's in-form, defensively imperious unit and Sweden's star-studded but inconsistent side.

Japan arrive at this World Cup in outstanding form. Manager Hajime Moriyasu has built a side that combines European-based quality - Wataru Endo at Liverpool, Takefusa Kubo at Real Sociedad, Hiroki Ito at Bayern Munich - with collective discipline that produced five consecutive wins without conceding a single goal. Japan qualified as AFC Group C winners for their eighth World Cup appearance, with a FIFA ranking of 18.

Sweden return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018, having come through the UEFA play-offs as Path B winners under Graham Potter. They possess a formidable attacking pair in Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) and Alexander Isak (Liverpool), two of the most dangerous forwards in this tournament. The result of this final group game shapes the Group F standings and the bracket for the round of 32 - the Group F winner faces the runner-up of Group C.

Head-to-Head: Japan vs Sweden

Japan and Sweden have met just 4 times at senior international level, with Japan never tasting defeat - recording 1 win and 3 draws across nearly nine decades of a rare but historically fascinating rivalry.

Their 4 previous encounters, including the famous 1936 Olympic final, are as follows:

• 25 May 2002 - Friendly - Japan 1:1 Sweden
• 22 February 1996 - Friendly - Japan 1:1 Sweden (pen. 4-5)
• 10 June 1995 - Friendly - Sweden 2:2 Japan
• 4 August 1936 - Olympic Football Tournament Final - Japan 3:2 Sweden

Japan - Recent Form

Japan arrive at the 2026 World Cup on a run of 5 consecutive wins without conceding a single goal - the sort of momentum that makes them a genuine contender to top Group F.

Their pre-tournament preparation was near-perfect: a 1:0 victory over Iceland on 31 May 2026, back-to-back away wins against England (1:0) and Scotland (1:0) in March 2026, and a dominant autumn 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup where Japan dismantled Bolivia 3:0 and Ghana 2:0. In those 5 matches, Japan scored 8 goals and conceded zero - a defensive record that stands out across the entire tournament field.

Sweden - Recent Form

Sweden head into the World Cup with a mixed record: 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats from their last 5 matches, scoring 9 goals but conceding 11 - a sequence that highlights the tension between their attacking brilliance and defensive fragility.

The positives are clear: a 3:2 home win over Poland and a commanding 3:1 victory in Ukraine were enough to secure their place in the UEFA play-offs. However, a 1:1 draw with Slovenia and a 1:4 defeat in Switzerland exposed how vulnerable their defence can be. A 1:3 friendly loss to Norway on 1 June 2026 - just days before the tournament - added to the defensive concerns. Sweden conceded 11 goals in 5 matches, a figure that Japan's efficient attack may be well-placed to exploit.

Facts and Statistics

5 key facts and statistics about the Japan vs Sweden rivalry and this World Cup match:

• Japan have never lost to Sweden in 4 senior international meetings - their record stands at 1 win and 3 draws.
• The first meeting between the two sides was the final of the 1936 Olympic Football Tournament in Berlin, won 3:2 by Japan.
• Across their 4 matches, both teams have combined for 13 goals - an average of more than 3 per game.
• Sweden return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018; Japan appear for the 8th time in their history.
• Japan kept a clean sheet in all 5 of their pre-tournament matches, conceding 0 goals across 450 minutes of football.