In the final Group F match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Japan and Sweden met at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and the first half ended goalless. Japan, for whom a draw is enough to advance, were the better side on the pitch, while Sweden, with no option but to win, could not make an impact going forward.
The development that marked the first half was misfortune on Sweden's side. Centre-back Isak Hien, booked in the 32nd minute, was injured in the 37th minute and could not continue, replaced by Lucas Bergvall. For Japan, Shogo Taniguchi came on for captain Ko Itakura in the 39th minute. Sweden's star strike pair Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres struggled to break down the Japanese defence and could not produce a clear chance in the opening 45 minutes.
Japan's control dominated the overall match. Hajime Moriyasu's side held an edge over their opponents in possession (55%), expected goals (0.21-0.07) and total shots (4-2). Still, both teams managed only one shot on target each in the first 45 minutes and produced no "big chance"; the match was a cautious affair short on clear-cut moments at either end. Daichi Kamada, taking on the creative duties in Takefusa Kubo's injury absence, tried to drive Japan's attack. In the second half, Sweden, who have to win, are expected to take more risks and open the game up.
Image: Yahoo Sports
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