Japan vs Sweden

Japan have used 22 different players across their first two matches — only Mexico (25) and fellow group-stage graduates Bosnia-Herzegovina and Brazil (22 each) have used as many or more at the 2026 World Cup.

Japan have won 4 of their 14 World Cup matches against European teams (4W-5D-5L).

Japan are unbeaten in their last 4 World Cup matches against European teams (2W-2D).

Japan have scored in each of their last 5 World Cup matches against European teams.

Japan are unbeaten in their 5 fixtures (including friendlies) played in 2026 (4W-1D-0L).

Japan are unbeaten in their last 9 fixtures (including friendlies), going 7W-2D-0L with 19 goals scored and 6 goals conceded.

Japan have won 5 of their last 6 fixtures (including friendlies), with their only exception a draw against Netherlands.

Japan travel about 958 km from Monterrey to Dallas for this match, moving 1 hour forward.

Sweden return to the Dallas area (Cotton Bowl, Dallas) for the 2026 World Cup, 32 years after their last match there — a 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia in the 1994 round of 16.

Sweden are one of 8 teams to have made zero changes to their starting XI between their first two matches, naming an identical XI in both games — level with Colombia, DR Congo, Egypt, Germany, New Zealand, Norway and Senegal.

Sweden have scored in each of their last 8 fixtures (including friendlies), going 3W-2D-3L with 17 goals scored and 19 goals conceded.

Sweden have conceded in each of their last 12 fixtures (including friendlies), going 3W-3D-6L with 19 goals scored and 26 goals conceded.

Alexander Isak is the joint-top assister at this World Cup, level with Michael Olise on three apiece.

Sweden travel about 299 km from Houston to Dallas for this match, with no time-zone change.

Sweden are one of 13 teams to have made no changes to their starting XI between their last two matches at this World Cup.

Japan have never beaten Sweden in 6 overall international fixtures (0W-2D-4L).

Sweden have never lost to Japan in 6 overall international fixtures (4W-2D-0L).

Japan and Sweden have never met at a FIFA World Cup. This will be their first World Cup encounter.

Asian teams are winless in their last 9 World Cup matches against European teams (3D-6L).

Japan and Sweden have never met at a World Cup before — this is their first meeting.

Japan and Sweden have met 6 times in overall international fixtures: Japan have won 0, with 2 draw(s) and 4 win(s) for Sweden.

Asian teams have lost 5 of their last 6 World Cup matches against European teams, with their only exception a draw against Belgium.