Japan officially secured their spot in the World Cup knockout stage following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Sweden on the evening of June 19. The match was intense and marked by fierce challenges, but Japan accumulated enough points to finish in the top two of their group.
Japan's goal came in the 35th minute, while Sweden equalized in the second half. Despite not winning, the result was enough to send Japan through, adding to their impressive recent World Cup performances.
Japan's head coach expressed satisfaction with the players' fighting spirit. Their opponent in the knockout stage will be determined after the final group matches.
