The final round in World Cup 2026 Group F promises to create plenty of drama in the very early hours of Friday morning.
Japan, who are level on four points with Netherlands, take on Sweden at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, with the Scandinavians in close proximity on three points.
With the new format in place and the eight best third-placed nations now qualifying for the Round of 32, both teams stand a good chance of progressing, though a heavy defeat for Sweden would potentially spell the end of their campaign.
Tunisia vs Netherlands kicks off at the exact same time, so the group standings should chop and change quite a bit as the early hours of the morning progress.
We have previewed Japan vs Sweden in full for you below, and there are also some betting tips based on NetBet’s latest World Cup odds.
And with group games coming thick and fast over the next few days, combo bets are most certainly on the menu, and our Acca Boost feature can increase your potential winnings by up to 50%!
Where can I watch Japan vs Sweden in the UK?
Japan vs Sweden will be broadcast live on BBC Two, with kick-off scheduled for 12am UK time.
Japan vs Sweden Preview
Recent results
After earning a very credible 2-2 draw with Netherlands in their opener, earned through a late Daichi Kamada equaliser, Japan thrashed Tunisia 4-0 last Sunday evening. Hajime Moriyasu’s side are now unbeaten in nine matches, suffering just one defeat in the last 15 games – seriously impressive stuff.
Sweden’s start to the tournament has been rather bizarre. Graham Potter’s men inflicted a 5-1 defeat on Tunisia, before losing by the same scoreline vs Netherlands. Interestingly, the Swedes had more shots on target in the heavy Dutch defeat, which is perhaps the smallest of silver linings for the squad.
Head-to-head record
Japan and Sweden have met four times previously, with three of the encounters ending in a draw. The Scandinavian side claimed a 1-0 victory in February 1997.
Team news
Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo missed the win over Tunisia with injury, but could return to the squad for this match. Shuto Machino was also absent through illness, so he is still a doubt here.
Sweden have no injuries or suspesions to contend with, so expect minimal changes to the XI. Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga made his case for a starting berth by scoring off the bench vs Netherlands.
Japan vs Sweden Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Japan are the clear favourites ahead of kick-off at a price of 1.89. A victory for Sweden is at odds of 4.20, while the draw is 3.25.
Japan vs Sweden Betting Tips
Anytime goalscorer – Ayase Ueda @ 2.63
Ueda got off the mark at World Cup 2026 with a well-taken brace in the victory over Tunisia. The striker arrived at the tournament on the back of a superb season with Feyenoord, in which he tallied 24 Eredivisie goals from 31 appearances. With Sweden’s defence representing a wounded animal after a Dutch demolition job, Ueda can fill his boots once again here.
Daichi Kamada to have over 0.5 shots on target @ 2.40
Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada is enjoying a brilliant tournament, scoring in each of the first two matches. With that in mind, it seems slightly strange that he is priced at better than evens to register just one shot on target in the game. Certainly one to consider…
Viktor Gyokeres to have over 1.5 shots on target @ 2.92
Gyokeres – who scored in the win over Tunisia – has already registered five SOT at the World Cup, and he was a constant threat on the counter vs Netherlands. The Arsenal ace has clearly got a good understanding with strike partner Alexander Isak, a combination which we expect to really test the Japan defence. Gyokeres is priced at 2.63 to score anytime in the match, but this selection could be a more valuable route to a winner.
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