Japan vs Sweden Odds, Tips & Predictions: In-Form Japanese to Take the Points

Japan take on Sweden in a huge Group F game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On the final matchday, the Japanese are on four points, with the Swedes a point behind in third.

Thursday’s fixture at AT&T Stadium is a straight shootout for an automatic place in the Round of 32. Japan are the favourites with the bookies, but Sweden are looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat last time out. Which way will it go in Arlington?

Japan vs Sweden Picks & Preview

Japan could be a dark horse in North America, and they are one positive result away from booking their spot in the knockout phase. Hajime Moriyasu’s men have taken four points from two group matches, scoring six goals to boot.

Going by the latest World Cup Group F odds, Japan are in a shootout with Netherlands for first place. The pair played out a thrilling four-goal draw in game one, with Japan coming from behind twice to snatch a point.

Samurai Blue all but booked their place in the Round of 32 with a resounding 4-0 victory over Tunisia on matchday two. Ayase Ueda (2), Daichi Kamada, and Junya Ito were on target in the dominant display at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.

Sweden have had a mixed time in North America so far. They started like a house on fire, as goals from Yasin Ayari (2), Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Mattias Svanberg gave Graham Potter’s troops a 5-1 win against the Tunisians.

However, they were brought back down to earth with a bump in their second match, suffering a heavy 5-1 loss to Holland in Houston. The embarrassing defeat at NRG Stadium has left their World Cup dreams hanging by a thread.

This will be the first competitive meeting between the two nations. They have locked horns in friendlies on four occasions, with three of those ending level (in normal time). The last meeting back in 2002 finished in a 1-1 draw.

Backing the tie is tempting in this one, but we fancy in-form Japan to edge it in Texas. It could be close on the scoreline, so check out PricedUp’s 13/8 for the Japanese victory and under 3.5 goals.

Our Prediction: Japan Win & Under 3.5 Goals – 13/8

Japan vs Sweden Picks & Odds

Japan are in stunning form right now, winning seven of their last eight and suffering just one defeat in the past year. The Asian nation has seen off the likes of Brazil, Ghana, Scotland, and England in recent months.

Since a 2-2 draw with Paraguay in October, Japan have scored the opening goal in six of their following eight matches. They made a fast start against Tunisia in their last game, and our money is going on the Japanese to score first here at the solid World Cup odds of 4/6.

Our Prediction: Japan to Score First – 4/6

Japan vs Sweden Predictions

Scoring goals has not been an issue for Sweden, as Potter’s side have netted six in their first two games in North America. In Isak and Gyokeres, the Swedes have two of the very best strikers in the Premier League, and the pair will not go down without a fight.

Since a surprise 1-0 home loss to Kosovo in the World Cup qualifiers back in October, the Blue and Yellow have scored in each of their following eight fixtures across all competitions. They have also netted 12 goals in their last three.

We can see Sweden scoring in defeat on Thursday, and the Japan win and both teams to score is available at 14/5. The 2-1 Japanese triumph at 15/2 has also caught the eye.

Our Predictions: Japan Win & BTTS – 14/5 / Japan to Win 2-1 – 15/2

Odds taken from PricedUp at 10:00 UK time, on June 25