SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) faced Sweden in their third and final Group F fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on 25 June (local time) at Dallas Stadium in the United States.

Having come from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opening match before recording an emphatic 4-0 victory over Tunisia, Japan entered the game with four points from their first two fixtures. Knowing that a draw would be enough to secure qualification without relying on other results, head coach MORIYASU Hajime selected what he described as his “best available XI.”

SUZUKI Zion (Parma Calcio 1913) started in goal behind a back three of SEKO Ayumu (Le Havre AC), ITAKURA Kou (AFC Ajax) and ITO Hiroki (Bayern Munich). In midfield, TANAKA Ao (Leeds United) and KAMADA Daichi (Crystal Palace) operated in the centre, while SUGAWARA Yukinari (Werder Bremen) and NAKAMURA Keito (Stade de Reims) were deployed as wing-backs. DOAN Ritsu (Eintracht Frankfurt) and MAEDA Daizen (Celtic FC) played behind lone striker UEDA Ayase (Feyenoord), with Seko and Sugawara making their first starts of the tournament. .....

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日本サッカー協会（JFA）／日本代表／なでしこジャパン(@japanfootballassociation)がシェアした投稿

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