Sweden can clinch with a win; eleven hours before Japan play, Group F moves

Sweden arrive on a 5-1

Sweden lead Group F on three points after a 5-1 win over Tunisia in the opener. Yasin Ayari scored twice, with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and substitute Mattias Svanberg also on the board — Svanberg netting roughly 18 seconds after coming on, among the fastest substitute goals in World Cup history (Sky Sports). Reporting around the match says a win here would already secure Sweden a place in the next round (ESPN). The front pairing of Isak and Gyokeres is the part of this side opponents have to plan around first.

What the Netherlands have to fix

The Netherlands took one point from their opener, drawing 2-2 with Japan after Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored but the lead slipped twice (ESPN). On one point and sitting behind Japan on the tiebreaker, Ronald Koeman's side cannot afford a second dropped result; a defeat would leave them needing the final round against Tunisia to go their way. They wanted the ball against Japan and will again, with Gakpo, Frenkie de Jong and Reijnders central to how they build — the question is whether they tighten the lapses that cost them two leads.

What it means for Japan

Japan and the Netherlands are level on one point, with Japan second on the tiebreaker and the Netherlands third. Because this match kicks off eleven hours before Japan face Tunisia, Japanese viewers will already know the shape of the table by the time their team plays. If Sweden win, the Netherlands stay on one point, and a Japan win over Tunisia later that day would climb clear of them. If the Netherlands win, they jump to four and leapfrog Japan, turning the afternoon match into one Japan must win just to keep pace. A draw leaves Sweden close to through and keeps Japan a point behind the Netherlands until kickoff. That is the reason to watch a match Japan are not in.

For Japanese readers

Kickoff is 02:00 JST on Sunday, June 21, from Houston — a late-night start before a 13:00 JST Japan match the same day. The game streams on DAZN in Japan; check your route on the match page. If you are choosing what to follow on no sleep, the result is what matters for Group F: watch whether Sweden close the group out, or whether the Netherlands climb above Japan before Japan have kicked a ball.