Japan and Sweden Share the Points in Thrilling Draw in Dallas
Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in the third round of the 2026 World Cup at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Daizen Maeda scored for Japan in the 56th minute, with Anthony Elanga equalizing for Sweden in the 62nd minute.
Draw Keeps Competition Open in the Third Round
The match between Japan and Sweden ended in a 1-1 draw in the third round of the 2026 World Cup at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. It was an exciting encounter where both teams applied pressure, resulting in a competitive and balanced spectacle until the final whistle.
Match Highlights: Japanese Goal and Swift Swedish Response
Japanese player Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the 56th minute, capitalizing on an assist from his teammate Ritsu Doan, giving Japan the lead early in the second half. However, Sweden quickly leveled the score as Anthony Elanga equalized in the 62nd minute with a pass from Viktor Gyökeres, restoring balance to the match and reshaping its dynamics.
Among notable events, Swedish player Isak Hien received a yellow card in the 32nd minute before being substituted in the 37th minute by Lucas Bergvall. On the Japanese side, Ko Itakura replaced Shogo Taniguchi in the 39th minute, with Taniguchi himself receiving a yellow card in the 77th minute after returning to play. The 85th minute saw another yellow card for Sweden, this time for Viktor Gyökeres.
The match witnessed extensive substitutions in the second half; both teams collectively made ten changes, with notable ones including Ritsu Doan replacing Junya Ito in the 67th minute for Japan, while Swedish coach introduced Alexander Bernhardsson and Elliot Stroud in the 75th minute.
Analyzing the Numbers: Sweden More Threatening, Japan More Resilient
Possession: Japan 51% versus 49% for Sweden, reflecting a notable balance between the teams.
Total shots: Sweden 10 compared to Japan's 8, with Sweden having a clear advantage on target (5 versus 3).
Goalkeeper saves: Japan excelled with 4 saves against Sweden's 2, indicating greater Swedish pressure on the Japanese goal.
Corners: Dominant Swedish performance with 8 corners compared to just 2 for Japan.
Fouls: Japan committed 20 fouls compared to Sweden's 11.
Yellow cards: Sweden 2 compared to Japan's 1, with no red cards for either team.
Man of the Match
The Man of the Match award went to Japan's A. Taka, who finished the game with a rating of 7.44, standing out amidst fierce competition on the AT&T Stadium field in Dallas.
Follow 2026 World Cup coverage live — results, match schedules, and group standings on Sabq.