Japan eyes top spot in World Cup qualifying group to avoid Brazil

Japan's national football team is determined to secure first place in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when they face Sweden in their final group match. The team's strategic goal is to "absolutely win and avoid Brazil" in the knockout stages.

Currently second in the group with four points, Japan is almost guaranteed a spot in the round of 32. However, a victory against third-place Sweden (three points) would secure their top position. Even a loss would leave them with four points, potentially advancing them as a strong third-place team. The primary objective remains to win and secure the top spot to achieve a more favorable draw.

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Our goal is to win and finish first in the group. Playing in Monterrey is the most ideal scenario.

Finishing first in the group would pit Japan against Morocco (second in Group C) in Monterrey. Conversely, finishing second could lead to a challenging encounter with five-time champions Brazil (first in Group C) in Houston. Coach Hajime Moriyasu stated at a pre-match press conference, "Our goal is to win and finish first in the group. Playing in Monterrey is the most ideal scenario."

Moriyasu highlighted the team's positive experiences in Monterrey, including a decisive 4-0 victory over Tunisia during the group stage. "We held our pre-tournament camp and played the Tunisia match there. Familiarity with the stadium atmosphere and turf conditions will be an advantage," he explained. Japan's performance will be crucial, as they share the same points (4) and goal difference (4) with group leader Netherlands. If both teams win their final matches, goal difference will determine the group winner.

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We held our pre-tournament camp and played the Tunisia match there. Familiarity with the stadium atmosphere and turf conditions will be an advantage.