Jacob Widell Zetterström goes into Sweden and Japan with Sweden needing a win to secure direct knockout-round qualification. Japan can finish the job with a win or even a draw, which leaves Group F split between two different paths on the same pitch.
Japan sits 16th in the world and has been unbeaten in all competitions, including friendlies, since September 2025. Sweden is 36th, and Toby Cudworth — the Lead Editor for SI FC, a lifelong supporter of West Ham United and a May 2025 addition to Sports Illustrated — has framed the matchup around that gap.
Japan and Sweden in Group F
Japan and Sweden meet after Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands and kept its run intact. That form includes notable wins over Brazil and England in the same unbeaten stretch, which is why Japan enters as the clear favorite.
Sweden has already shown both ends of its group form. It opened with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, then lost 5-1 to the Netherlands, leaving its place in the knockout picture tied to this match rather than to earlier margin control.
Japan’s path versus Sweden’s
Japan can top Group F if it wins and the Netherlands fail to beat already-eliminated Tunisia. If Japan does not lose, it guarantees automatic qualification. Sweden, by contrast, needs victory to take the direct route into the knockout rounds.
If Sweden falls short, it can still rely on progression as one of the best third-placed teams. That is the practical edge of this match: one side can finish the group with certainty, while the other may have to wait for the table to break its way.
Toby Cudworth and the stakes
Toby Cudworth’s preview puts the pressure where it belongs — on Sweden’s need to turn one match into a direct passage. Whether Sweden can beat Japan and avoid relying on third-place qualification is the one part of Group F that still has to be settled on the field.
