Doan sends Japan through, Brazil await in the round of 16

Japan draw Sweden, Brazil next

Japan 1–1 Sweden, and both teams go through to the round of 16 (1) (2). Graham Potter's side had to come from behind after Anthony Elanga scored a stunner for Sweden. Ritsu Doan levelled it, and now Brazil await on Monday. "I think a draw was fair overall. I thought we were the slightly better team in the second half. When you go behind, it's very important to react well, and I think the players did that," Potter said after the match (1). Japan finish group play with a win, two draws, and no losses.

Doan delivers when it counts

Ritsu Doan got the goal that sent your team into the knockout round. Daizen Maeda set it up, and Doan finished, cancelling out Elanga's opener (1) (8). Potter opted to rest several starters, a call Sano Kaishu had framed before the match as necessary with only three days until the next fixture. The depth paid off.

Brazil on Monday, and Neymar is the worry

Japan will face Brazil in the round of 32 on Monday, June 29. The squad is not shying away from it. "We can beat them," was the message coming out of the Japan camp, though Neymar is the obvious concern (5). Your team goes in riding momentum: a 4–0 win over Tunisia, two draws against Netherlands and Sweden, and a squad that looks genuinely deep.

Fan reactions

The scenes from Shibuya Crossing tell the story, thousands of fans celebrating into the night after Japan booked their spot in the knockout round. The mood is confident but realistic; fans are already circling the Brazil match thread, and the tone is not fearful. One thread breaks down third-place qualification permutations triggered by the Sweden draw link, while another captures the raw celebration link.