Japan 1-1 Sweden: FIFA World Cup 2026 Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead, and Anthony Elanga took it away six minutes later, helping Sweden to a 1-1 draw Thursday night that sent both teams to the knockout round of the World Cup.
Elanga’s impressive left-footed strike from just outside the right corner of the box in the 62nd minute was his second goal of this year’s tournament. Elanga has scored only three goals in 49 games for Newcastle, but zero in 32 Premier League matches.
Japan, fancied as dark horses to go far in North America, were hanging on by the end as Alexander Isak and Elanga both went close in injury time.
The Netherlands finished top of a competitive group with seven points, with Japan on five, Sweden four and Tunisia on the plane home with zero.