Japan finished second in Group F of the 2026 World Cup after drawing 1-1 with Sweden on June 25, earning 5 points and securing a place in the knockout stage [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Earlier in the group, Japan defeated Tunisia 4-0 and drew 2-2 with the Netherlands despite missing key players such as captain Wataru Endo, winger Kaoru Mitoma, playmaker Takumi Minamino, and Takefusa Kubo due to injuries [7, 8, 9].
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu credited the team’s adaptability and teamwork for their strong showing despite the absences. He said, "Anyone can play with anyone else, that's the readiness we wanted to ensure" [7]. Moriyasu acknowledged the team aimed to top the group but settled for second place after the draw against Sweden. He added, "If possible we would like to advance on top of the group by scoring as many goals, but distorting the balance of the team is more of a risk" [10].
Japan will face Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, in the round of 32 knockout match scheduled for June 29 or 30 in Houston [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Moriyasu emphasized Japan is not an underdog in the matchup, saying, "Last time we proved to Brazil that we aren’t a pushover. That is great progress for us. The Brazilian team is a top team in the world and we greatly respect them. In the match we don’t know what is going to happen. We will have a chance to win as well" [1]. This follows Japan's first-ever victory over Brazil in a friendly 3-2 win in Tokyo last October 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4, 6].
Japanese player Ko Itakura expressed the team’s ambition, stating, "Our goal is beyond group qualification; we aim to win the World Cup" [11, 12]. Meanwhile, Sweden’s coach Graham Potter pointed to their volatile group stage with a big win over Tunisia but heavy loss to the Netherlands. Potter plans tactical changes for the match against Japan, saying Japan’s strength lies in their unified play on both attack and defense [11]. Moriyasu also noted the challenge of balancing an aggressive game plan with maintaining team stability amid injuries and lineup changes [11].
Japan's next match against Brazil in Houston will test the team's resilience and tactical unity as they seek to advance in the World Cup knockout round [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
