Japan host Sweden in the World Cup 2026 on 26 June 2026, Friday. Get our free predictions, betting tips, odds insights, team form guide & H2H stats for this clash. This fixture is scheduled to kicks off at 00:00 UK Time.
Japan face Sweden in a decisive Group F clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Thursday June 25, with both matches in the group kicking off simultaneously at 7pm ET.
Japan sit second in the group on four points, level with the Netherlands on points but behind on goal difference. Sweden are third on three points and must win to have any realistic chance of reaching the knockout stage.
The Samurai Blues know a draw is enough to guarantee their passage to the Round of 32. The two sides met at the 2002 World Cup, with Japan winning 2-0 on home soil in what remains the only World Cup encounter between them.
For tips across the full tournament, visit our World Cup 2026 football tips page, or head to the World Cup 2026 hub for full group coverage.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side have been one of the most impressive teams in this tournament and the manner of their two results tells the full story. Coming from behind twice against the Netherlands to draw 2-2 showed resilience and belief, while the 4-0 demolition of Tunisia — the 1,000th match in World Cup history — was the most complete performance of any Asian nation at a World Cup. Daichi Kamada pulled the strings from midfield, Keito Nakamura caused problems all night from wide and Ayase Ueda finished with two clinical goals. Sweden’s defensive record under Graham Potter is a significant concern heading into this game. They have not kept a clean sheet in seven matches under the former Chelsea manager, and the 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands exposed exactly the kind of spaces on the flanks and in behind that Japan’s fast, direct attacking system is built to exploit. Japan’s transitions from deep are some of the sharpest at this tournament and Sweden will be obliged to attack, which only opens more space for the Samurai Blue to run into on the counter.
Graham Potter’s side are not without quality. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres are two of the finest strikers in world football and both showed sharp form in the 5-1 opening win over Tunisia, with Isak scoring and assisting twice and Gyokeres adding a composed finish of his own.
The problem is the situation they face. Sweden must win this match to have any chance of qualification and will be forced to commit men forward against a Japan side that has been outstanding on the break throughout this tournament.
Against the Netherlands they had more shots but conceded a higher xG — their defensive structure is fragile when stretched. Japan’s tactical discipline under Moriyasu is a known commodity.
Japan beat Spain and Germany at Qatar 2022, beat England at Wembley in March, and their record of coming through high-stakes group games is exceptional. Sweden, for all the individual quality of their forwards, have not won a World Cup group game against a side of Japan’s calibre in recent memory.
Therefore, Japan to win at 2.05 is the best betting tip for this match. The dynamic of this game suits Moriyasu’s side perfectly. Japan need only a draw but they will not sit back and invite pressure — their pressing and transition game is too ingrained for that.
Over 1.5 goals in the second half at 2.00 is the value tip. Japan’s matches at this tournament have consistently produced goals in the second half — Kamada’s 88th-minute equaliser against the Netherlands and three of the four goals against Tunisia came after the break.
Japan 2-1 at 9.00 is the correct score pick. Sweden will create chances through Isak and Gyokeres and the goal difference picture means Japan will not be entirely passive in defence.
| Japan | Sweden | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Played | 2 | 2 |
| Wins | 1 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | 0 |
| Loss | 0 | 1 |
| Goals For | 6 | 6 |
| Goals Against | 2 | 6 |
| Japan | Sweden | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Played | 0 | 1 |
| Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Loss | 0 | 1 |
| Goals For | 0 | 1 |
| Goals Against | 0 | 5 |
|
21.06.26
|
Tunisia Japan |
0-4 |
|
14.06.26
|
Netherlands Japan |
2-2 |
|
31.05.26
|
Japan Iceland |
1-0 |
|
31.03.26
|
England Japan |
0-1 |
|
28.03.26
|
Scotland Japan |
0-1 |
|
18.11.25
|
Japan Bolivia |
3-0 |
|
14.11.25
|
Japan Ghana |
2-0 |
|
14.10.25
|
Japan Brazil |
3-2 |
|
10.10.25
|
Japan Paraguay |
2-2 |
|
10.09.25
|
USA Japan |
2-0 |
|
07.09.25
|
Mexico Japan |
0-0 |
|
15.07.25
|
South Korea Japan |
0-1 |
|
12.07.25
|
Japan China |
2-0 |
|
08.07.25
|
Japan Hong Kong |
6-1 |
|
10.06.25
|
Japan Indonesia |
6-0 |
|
05.06.25
|
Australia Japan |
1-0 |
|
25.03.25
|
Japan Saudi Arabia |
0-0 |
|
20.03.25
|
Japan Bahrain |
2-0 |
|
19.11.24
|
China Japan |
1-3 |
|
15.11.24
|
Indonesia Japan |
0-4 |
|
15.10.24
|
Japan Australia |
1-1 |
|
10.10.24
|
Saudi Arabia Japan |
0-2 |
|
10.09.24
|
Bahrain Japan |
0-5 |
|
05.09.24
|
Japan China |
7-0 |
|
11.06.24
|
Japan Syria |
5-0 |
|
06.06.24
|
Myanmar Japan |
0-5 |
|
26.03.24
|
North Korea Japan |
0-3 |
|
21.03.24
|
Japan North Korea |
1-0 |
|
03.02.24
|
Iran Japan |
2-1 |
|
31.01.24
|
Bahrain Japan |
1-3 |
|
24.01.24
|
Japan Indonesia |
3-1 |
|
19.01.24
|
Iraq Japan |
2-1 |
|
14.01.24
|
Japan Vietnam |
4-2 |
|
09.01.24
|
Japan Jordan |
6-1 |
|
01.01.24
|
Japan Thailand |
5-0 |
|
21.11.23
|
Syria Japan |
0-5 |
|
16.11.23
|
Japan Myanmar |
5-0 |
|
17.10.23
|
Japan Tunisia |
2-0 |
|
13.10.23
|
Japan Canada |
4-1 |
|
12.09.23
|
Japan Turkey |
4-2 |
|
09.09.23
|
Germany Japan |
1-4 |
|
20.06.23
|
Japan Peru |
4-1 |
|
15.06.23
|
Japan El Salvador |
6-0 |
|
28.03.23
|
Japan Colombia |
1-2 |
|
24.03.23
|
Japan Uruguay |
1-1 |
|
05.12.22
|
Japan Croatia (Penalties:1 - 3) |
1-1 |
|
01.12.22
|
Japan Spain |
2-1 |
|
27.11.22
|
Japan Costa Rica |
0-1 |
|
23.11.22
|
Germany Japan |
1-2 |
|
17.11.22
|
Japan Canada |
1-2 |
|
31.05.26
|
Japan Iceland |
1-0 |
|
18.11.25
|
Japan Bolivia |
3-0 |
|
14.11.25
|
Japan Ghana |
2-0 |
|
14.10.25
|
Japan Brazil |
3-2 |
|
10.10.25
|
Japan Paraguay |
2-2 |
|
12.07.25
|
Japan China |
2-0 |
|
08.07.25
|
Japan Hong Kong |
6-1 |
|
10.06.25
|
Japan Indonesia |
6-0 |
|
25.03.25
|
Japan Saudi Arabia |
0-0 |
|
20.03.25
|
Japan Bahrain |
2-0 |
|
15.10.24
|
Japan Australia |
1-1 |
|
05.09.24
|
Japan China |
7-0 |
|
11.06.24
|
Japan Syria |
5-0 |
|
21.03.24
|
Japan North Korea |
1-0 |
|
24.01.24
|
Japan Indonesia |
3-1 |
|
14.01.24
|
Japan Vietnam |
4-2 |
|
09.01.24
|
Japan Jordan |
6-1 |
|
01.01.24
|
Japan Thailand |
5-0 |
|
16.11.23
|
Japan Myanmar |
5-0 |
|
17.10.23
|
Japan Tunisia |
2-0 |
|
13.10.23
|
Japan Canada |
4-1 |
|
12.09.23
|
Japan Turkey |
4-2 |
|
20.06.23
|
Japan Peru |
4-1 |
|
15.06.23
|
Japan El Salvador |
6-0 |
|
28.03.23
|
Japan Colombia |
1-2 |
|
24.03.23
|
Japan Uruguay |
1-1 |
|
05.12.22
|
Japan Croatia (Penalties:1 - 3) |
1-1 |
|
01.12.22
|
Japan Spain |
2-1 |
|
27.11.22
|
Japan Costa Rica |
0-1 |
|
17.11.22
|
Japan Canada |
1-2 |
|
27.09.22
|
Japan Ecuador |
0-0 |
|
23.09.22
|
Japan USA |
2-0 |
|
27.07.22
|
Japan South Korea |
3-0 |
|
24.07.22
|
Japan China |
0-0 |
|
19.07.22
|
Japan Hong Kong |
6-0 |
|
14.06.22
|
Japan Tunisia |
0-3 |
|
10.06.22
|
Japan Ghana |
4-1 |
|
06.06.22
|
Japan Brazil |
0-1 |
|
02.06.22
|
Japan Paraguay |
4-1 |
|
29.03.22
|
Japan Vietnam |
1-1 |
|
01.02.22
|
Japan Saudi Arabia |
2-0 |
|
27.01.22
|
Japan China |
2-0 |
|
12.10.21
|
Japan Australia |
2-1 |
|
02.09.21
|
Japan Oman |
0-1 |
|
15.06.21
|
Japan Kyrgyzstan |
5-1 |
|
11.06.21
|
Japan Serbia |
1-0 |
|
07.06.21
|
Japan Tajikistan |
4-1 |
|
28.05.21
|
Japan Myanmar |
10-0 |
|
25.03.21
|
Japan South Korea |
3-0 |
|
17.11.20
|
Japan Mexico |
0-2 |
|
21.06.26
|
Tunisia Japan |
0-4 |
|
14.06.26
|
Netherlands Japan |
2-2 |
|
31.03.26
|
England Japan |
0-1 |
|
28.03.26
|
Scotland Japan |
0-1 |
|
09.09.25
|
USA Japan |
2-0 |
|
07.09.25
|
Mexico Japan |
0-0 |
|
15.07.25
|
South Korea Japan |
0-1 |
|
05.06.25
|
Australia Japan |
1-0 |
|
19.11.24
|
China Japan |
1-3 |
|
15.11.24
|
Indonesia Japan |
0-4 |
|
10.10.24
|
Saudi Arabia Japan |
0-2 |
|
10.09.24
|
Bahrain Japan |
0-5 |
|
06.06.24
|
Myanmar Japan |
0-5 |
|
26.03.24
|
North Korea Japan |
0-3 |
|
03.02.24
|
Iran Japan |
2-1 |
|
31.01.24
|
Bahrain Japan |
1-3 |
|
19.01.24
|
Iraq Japan |
2-1 |
|
21.11.23
|
Syria Japan |
0-5 |
|
09.09.23
|
Germany Japan |
1-4 |
|
23.11.22
|
Germany Japan |
1-2 |
|
24.03.22
|
Australia Japan |
0-2 |
|
16.11.21
|
Oman Japan |
0-1 |
|
11.11.21
|
Vietnam Japan |
0-1 |
|
07.10.21
|
Saudi Arabia Japan |
1-0 |
|
07.09.21
|
China Japan |
0-1 |
|
30.03.21
|
Mongolia Japan |
0-14 |
|
18.12.19
|
South Korea Japan |
1-0 |
|
10.12.19
|
China Japan |
1-2 |
|
14.11.19
|
Kyrgyzstan Japan |
0-2 |
|
15.10.19
|
Tajikistan Japan |
0-3 |
|
10.09.19
|
Myanmar Japan |
0-2 |
|
24.06.19
|
Ecuador Japan |
1-1 |
|
20.06.19
|
Uruguay Japan |
2-2 |
|
28.01.19
|
Iran Japan |
0-3 |
|
24.01.19
|
Vietnam Japan |
0-1 |
|
08.09.15
|
Afghanistan Japan |
0-6 |
|
02.08.15
|
North Korea Japan |
2-1 |
|
20.06.26
|
Netherlands Sweden |
5-1 |
|
15.06.26
|
Sweden Tunisia |
5-1 |
|
04.06.26
|
Sweden Greece |
2-2 |
|
01.06.26
|
Norway Sweden |
3-1 |
|
31.03.26
|
Sweden Poland |
3-2 |
|
26.03.26
|
Ukraine Sweden |
1-3 |
|
18.11.25
|
Sweden Slovenia |
1-1 |
|
15.11.25
|
Switzerland Sweden |
4-1 |
|
13.10.25
|
Sweden Kosovo |
0-1 |
|
10.10.25
|
Sweden Switzerland |
0-2 |
|
08.09.25
|
Kosovo Sweden |
2-0 |
|
05.09.25
|
Slovenia Sweden |
2-2 |
|
10.06.25
|
Sweden Algeria |
4-3 |
|
06.06.25
|
Hungary Sweden |
0-2 |
|
25.03.25
|
Sweden Northern Ireland |
5-1 |
|
22.03.25
|
Luxembourg Sweden |
1-0 |
|
19.11.24
|
Sweden Azerbaijan |
6-0 |
|
16.11.24
|
Sweden Slovakia |
2-1 |
|
14.10.24
|
Estonia Sweden |
0-3 |
|
11.10.24
|
Slovakia Sweden |
2-2 |
|
08.09.24
|
Sweden Estonia |
3-0 |
|
05.09.24
|
Azerbaijan Sweden |
1-3 |
|
08.06.24
|
Sweden Serbia |
0-3 |
|
05.06.24
|
Denmark Sweden |
2-1 |
|
25.03.24
|
Sweden Albania |
1-0 |
|
21.03.24
|
Portugal Sweden |
5-2 |
|
12.01.24
|
Sweden Estonia |
2-1 |
|
19.11.23
|
Sweden Estonia |
2-0 |
|
16.11.23
|
Azerbaijan Sweden |
3-0 |
|
16.10.23
|
Belgium Sweden |
1-1 |
|
12.10.23
|
Sweden Moldova |
3-1 |
|
12.09.23
|
Sweden Austria |
1-3 |
|
09.09.23
|
Estonia Sweden |
0-5 |
|
20.06.23
|
Austria Sweden |
2-0 |
|
16.06.23
|
Sweden New Zealand |
4-1 |
|
27.03.23
|
Sweden Azerbaijan |
5-0 |
|
24.03.23
|
Sweden Belgium |
0-3 |
|
12.01.23
|
Sweden Iceland |
2-1 |
|
09.01.23
|
Sweden Finland |
2-0 |
|
19.11.22
|
Sweden Algeria |
2-0 |
|
16.11.22
|
Mexico Sweden |
1-2 |
|
27.09.22
|
Sweden Slovenia |
1-1 |
|
24.09.22
|
Serbia Sweden |
4-1 |
|
12.06.22
|
Norway Sweden |
3-2 |
|
09.06.22
|
Sweden Serbia |
0-1 |
|
05.06.22
|
Sweden Norway |
1-2 |
|
02.06.22
|
Slovenia Sweden |
0-2 |
|
29.03.22
|
Poland Sweden |
2-0 |
|
24.03.22
|
Sweden Czech Republic |
1-0 |
|
14.11.21
|
Spain Sweden |
1-0 |
|
15.06.26
|
Sweden Tunisia |
5-1 |
|
04.06.26
|
Sweden Greece |
2-2 |
|
31.03.26
|
Sweden Poland |
3-2 |
|
18.11.25
|
Sweden Slovenia |
1-1 |
|
13.10.25
|
Sweden Kosovo |
0-1 |
|
10.10.25
|
Sweden Switzerland |
0-2 |
|
10.06.25
|
Sweden Algeria |
4-3 |
|
25.03.25
|
Sweden Northern Ireland |
5-1 |
|
19.11.24
|
Sweden Azerbaijan |
6-0 |
|
16.11.24
|
Sweden Slovakia |
2-1 |
|
08.09.24
|
Sweden Estonia |
3-0 |
|
08.06.24
|
Sweden Serbia |
0-3 |
|
25.03.24
|
Sweden Albania |
1-0 |
|
12.01.24
|
Sweden Estonia |
2-1 |
|
19.11.23
|
Sweden Estonia |
2-0 |
|
12.10.23
|
Sweden Moldova |
3-1 |
|
12.09.23
|
Sweden Austria |
1-3 |
|
16.06.23
|
Sweden New Zealand |
4-1 |
|
27.03.23
|
Sweden Azerbaijan |
5-0 |
|
24.03.23
|
Sweden Belgium |
0-3 |
|
12.01.23
|
Sweden Iceland |
2-1 |
|
09.01.23
|
Sweden Finland |
2-0 |
|
19.11.22
|
Sweden Algeria |
2-0 |
|
27.09.22
|
Sweden Slovenia |
1-1 |
|
09.06.22
|
Sweden Serbia |
0-1 |
|
05.06.22
|
Sweden Norway |
1-2 |
|
24.03.22
|
Sweden Czech Republic |
1-0 |
|
12.10.21
|
Sweden Greece |
2-0 |
|
09.10.21
|
Sweden Kosovo |
3-0 |
|
05.09.21
|
Sweden Uzbekistan |
2-1 |
|
02.09.21
|
Sweden Spain |
2-1 |
|
29.06.21
|
Sweden Ukraine |
1-2 |
|
23.06.21
|
Sweden Poland |
3-2 |
|
18.06.21
|
Sweden Slovakia |
1-0 |
|
05.06.21
|
Sweden Armenia |
3-1 |
|
29.05.21
|
Sweden Finland |
2-0 |
|
31.03.21
|
Sweden Estonia |
1-0 |
|
25.03.21
|
Sweden Georgia |
1-0 |
|
14.11.20
|
Sweden Croatia |
2-1 |
|
08.09.20
|
Sweden Portugal |
0-2 |
|
05.09.20
|
Sweden France |
0-1 |
|
12.01.20
|
Sweden Kosovo |
1-0 |
|
09.01.20
|
Sweden Moldova |
1-0 |
|
18.11.19
|
Sweden Faroe Islands |
3-0 |
|
15.10.19
|
Sweden Spain |
1-1 |
|
08.09.19
|
Sweden Norway |
1-1 |
|
07.06.19
|
Sweden Malta |
3-0 |
|
23.03.19
|
Sweden Romania |
2-1 |
|
20.06.26
|
Netherlands Sweden |
5-1 |
|
01.06.26
|
Norway Sweden |
3-1 |
|
26.03.26
|
Ukraine Sweden |
1-3 |
|
15.11.25
|
Switzerland Sweden |
4-1 |
|
08.09.25
|
Kosovo Sweden |
2-0 |
|
05.09.25
|
Slovenia Sweden |
2-2 |
|
06.06.25
|
Hungary Sweden |
0-2 |
|
22.03.25
|
Luxembourg Sweden |
1-0 |
|
14.10.24
|
Estonia Sweden |
0-3 |
|
11.10.24
|
Slovakia Sweden |
2-2 |
|
05.09.24
|
Azerbaijan Sweden |
1-3 |
|
05.06.24
|
Denmark Sweden |
2-1 |
|
21.03.24
|
Portugal Sweden |
5-2 |
|
16.11.23
|
Azerbaijan Sweden |
3-0 |
|
16.10.23
|
Belgium Sweden |
1-1 |
|
09.09.23
|
Estonia Sweden |
0-5 |
|
20.06.23
|
Austria Sweden |
2-0 |
|
16.11.22
|
Mexico Sweden |
1-2 |
|
24.09.22
|
Serbia Sweden |
4-1 |
|
12.06.22
|
Norway Sweden |
3-2 |
|
02.06.22
|
Slovenia Sweden |
0-2 |
|
29.03.22
|
Poland Sweden |
2-0 |
|
14.11.21
|
Spain Sweden |
1-0 |
|
11.11.21
|
Georgia Sweden |
2-0 |
|
08.09.21
|
Greece Sweden |
2-1 |
|
14.06.21
|
Spain Sweden |
0-0 |
|
28.03.21
|
Kosovo Sweden |
0-3 |
|
17.11.20
|
France Sweden |
4-2 |
|
11.11.20
|
Denmark Sweden |
2-0 |
|
14.10.20
|
Portugal Sweden |
3-0 |
|
11.10.20
|
Croatia Sweden |
2-1 |
|
08.10.20
|
Russia Sweden |
1-2 |
|
15.11.19
|
Romania Sweden |
0-2 |
|
12.10.19
|
Malta Sweden |
0-4 |
|
05.09.19
|
Faroe Islands Sweden |
0-4 |
|
26.03.19
|
Norway Sweden |
3-3 |
| There are no records |
| There are no records |