KUCHING: Japan became the first Asian nation to reach the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 after securing a 1-1 draw against Sweden in their final Group F match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Thursday.
The result saw Hajime Moriyasu’s side finish second in Group F with five points, behind the Netherlands on seven, to seal automatic qualification for the knockout stage.
Japan also completed the group stage unbeaten — their first undefeated World Cup group campaign since co-hosting the 2002 tournament and the first time they have achieved the feat on foreign soil.
Daizen Maeda gave the Samurai Blue a deserved lead in the 56th minute after latching onto Ritsu Doan’s defence-splitting pass and calmly lifting his finish over goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Sweden responded six minutes later when Anthony Elanga curled a superb strike beyond Zion Suzuki, but Japan remained composed to secure the point they needed.
The Samurai Blue looked the more enterprising side for much of the contest, with Keito Nakamura forcing a fine save before the break and Ao Tanaka controlling the midfield as Moriyasu’s men dictated long spells of possession.
While Sweden searched for a winner that would have secured automatic qualification, Japan’s disciplined defensive display ensured they preserved their unbeaten record.
The draw also confirmed Japan as the first of nine Asian representatives at the expanded 48-team tournament to book a place in the knockout rounds.
South Korea had been poised to become Asia’s first qualifier but slipped to third in Group A following a surprise 1-0 defeat to South Africa a day earlier.
Japan’s unbeaten group-stage run marks a significant milestone, improving on recent World Cup campaigns in South Africa (2010), Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), where they each suffered one group-stage defeat.
The Samurai Blue will now face five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 32 on Monday in a rematch of last October’s international friendly, when Japan stunned the football world by recovering from two goals down to defeat the Selecao 3-2.
