World Cup: Japan and Sweden clash for top-two spot in Group F

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World Cup: Japan and Sweden clash for top-two spot in Group F

Japan and Sweden will lock horns with hopes of automatic qualification from Group F at the 2026 World Cup. The Scandinavians had contrasting fortunes in their opening games as their impressive 5-1 victory over Tunisia was followed by a defeat of the same scoreline to the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Japan were on the right end of a four-goal margin when they reached four points with a convincing performance against Tunisia. Hiroki Ito (FC Bayern) and Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt) keep their places in the starting lineup, while Werder Bremen’s loanee Yukinari Sugawara gets his first start of the tournament.

Holstein Kiel’s Alexander Bernhardsson also maintained his spot in Sweden's star-studded lineup. Several Bundesliga players are among the substitutes named on either side.

Confirmed Sweden vs. Japan Lineups​

Sweden XI: Zetterström; Lagerbielke, Lindelöf ©, Hien; Bernhardsson, Stroud, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Elanga; Isak, Gyökeres

Japan XI: Suzuki; Seko, Itakura ©, Itō; Sugawara, Tanaka, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Doan; Ueda

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