The Asian team finished second in Group F with five points, while the Scandinavians finished third with four points and will have to wait to find out if they advance as one of the best third parties.
The match, played at 5 p.m. in Guatemala, was balanced and was marked by Japanese possession and the Swedish team’s ability to react.
Daizen Maeda opened the scoring for Japan in the 56th minute with a precise shot, after an elaborate play through the center of the field. The Asian team, which had just drawn against the Netherlands and beaten Tunisia, controlled the pace of the match for several passages, although it was difficult for them to generate clear chances against a well-organized Sweden in defense.
The Swedish response came in the 62nd minute. Anthony Elanga took advantage of an error in the ball’s release and scored with a powerful mid-range shot to beat the Japanese goalkeeper and establish the final 1-1.
In the final minutes, both teams looked for the winning goal, but the defenses prevailed and the scoreboard no longer moved.
The tie allowed Japan to finish second in Group F with five points, behind the Netherlands, leader with seven. Sweden finished third with four units and will depend on the results of the other groups to know if it obtains one of the tickets reserved for the best third parties. Tunisia finished last, without points.