Coluna do Fla
·25 June 2026
Predictions, line-ups and more on Japan v Sweden

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Yahoo sportsColuna do Fla
·25 June 2026

With Brazil keeping a close eye on it, Japan and Sweden meet this Thursday (25) at 8:00 p.m. (Brasília time) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, United States. The match is valid for the final round of Group F in the World Cup and could determine the five-time champion’s next opponent.
Both teams come into the match with important goals in the tournament. Japan, in fact, has a chance to take first place in the group, in a direct battle with the Netherlands. Sweden, meanwhile, depends only on itself to advance in the World Cup. It is worth noting that whoever finishes second will face Brazil.
EsportivaBet is offering some boosted odds for this big match. If Swedish striker Viktor Goykeres scores at any time, the bookmaker pays 3.50 (previously, the value was 2.90). Another tip is for a goal in the first half (by either team). We raised it from 1.40 to 1.50. Are you really going to miss out on this? Maximum stake of R$ 50.00 for both situations.
The match promises to be evenly balanced between two teams that usually show strong tactical organization. Japan is counting on the speed of its attacks and its intensity throughout the 90 minutes. Sweden, on the other hand, will try to use its physical strength and the experience of some players to chase the win.
Because of the teams’ current form and recent history, this match shapes up as one of the most balanced of the round. Even so, Japan comes in as a slight favorite to take the victory. The Asian side has four points, level with the Netherlands. Sweden has three.
The main standout for the Japanese national team is Takefusa Kubo, but the forward is out of the match after injuring his knee against the Netherlands. Without the Real Sociedad (ESP) player, the Asian side is placing its hopes on other names such as Nakamura, Ueda, and Kamada.
The Asian team has drawn attention for its collective organization and its ability to compete at a high level against major national teams in world football. In a recent friendly against Brazil, Japan came from behind to win 3-2. In this World Cup, the team also played a great match in the 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.
On the Swedish side, the main name is Alexander Isak, a Liverpool (ENG) forward. The striker stands out for his physical strength, speed, and finishing quality. Besides him, Sweden has other important players such as Viktor Gyökeres, Lindelof, and Elanga.
The European team is relying on experience and attacking efficiency to seek a positive result against the Japanese. If they win, the team could even jump to first place, as long as the Netherlands does not beat already-eliminated Tunisia in a match that also kicks off at 8:00 p.m. (Brasília time).
Japan lineup: Suzuki, Seko, Itakura and Hiroki Ito; Sugawara, Kamada, Tanaka and Nakamura; Doan, Ueda and Maeda. Coach: Hajime Moriyasu. Sweden lineup: Zetterstrom, Lagerbielke, Hien and Lindelof; Bernhardsson, Stroud, Ayari and Gudmundsson; Elanga, Isak and Goykeres. Coach: Graham Potter
In short, for fans who do not want to miss any detail of Japan vs Sweden, the match will be broadcast on Globo (free-to-air TV), SporTV (pay TV), and Cazé TV (YouTube). In addition, stay tuned to the Coluna do Fla website and social media for all the latest information on the 2026 World Cup.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.







































