Japan draws with Sweden and confirms duel against Brazil in the second phase; see results from Thursday's World Cup games (25)

Japan draws with Sweden and confirms duel against Brazil in the second phase
Japan ended the first phase of the World Cup in second place in Group F and will be Brazil's opponent in the round of 32. The leader of the bracket went to the Netherlands, who confirmed first place by beating Tunisia 3-1.
See the scores from all the games this Thursday (25):
Netherlands 3 x 1 Tunisia;
Japan 1 x 1 Sweden;
Paraguay 0 x 0 Australia;
Türkiye 3 x 2 United States;
Ecuador 2 x 1 Germany;
Curaçao 0 x 2 Ivory Coast.
Netherlands close the first phase in the lead
Already classified, the Netherlands closed the campaign in the group stage with another victory. The team beat Tunisia 3-1 and secured the lead in Group F. The Tunisians already entered the field with no chance of qualifying.
Japan advances
Now, attention turns to the Brazilian team's next opponent. Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden and confirmed second place in the group.
The Japanese team showed organization and intensity during the match. Sweden also advanced to the knockout stages, benefiting from their classification among the eight best third-placed teams.
Australia wins in a direct duel
Paraguay and Australia had a direct confrontation for a place in the next phase. With a goalless draw, the Australians secured qualification.
On the Paraguayan side, a well-known name in Brazilian football caught attention. Palmeiras midfielder Maurício created good opportunities and came close to scoring on two occasions.
Naturalized Paraguayan this year due to his grandmother's ancestry, the player fulfilled his dream of playing in a World Cup. He had already scored a goal in the team's debut, in the 4-1 defeat to the United States.
United States lose unbeaten record
Already classified, the United States lost their unbeaten record in the competition. The hosts were defeated 3-2 by Turkey, who entered the field already eliminated.
In the stands, the duel was attended by some Hollywood stars. Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio watched the match in Los Angeles.
Ecuador returns to the knockout stage after 20 years
Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 and secured its classification as one of the best third-placed teams.
The place marks the return of the Ecuadorian team to the knockout stages of a World Cup after 20 years.
Curaçao says goodbye with a fan party
The Coast of Ivory beat Curaçao 2-0 and secured second place in Group E, ensuring their presence in the next phase of the competition.
Despite the elimination, Curaçao left its mark on the World Cup. Before the match, the fans threw a huge party in the streets of Philadelphia. This was the first participation in the history of the Caribbean country in a World Cup.
FOLLOW the highlights of the World Cup on ge:
World Cup 2026 Simulator
World Cup 2026 Calendar: see dates and times of all games
RESULTS: check the World Cup table
Japan x Sweden
AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Source: G1