The chances of South Korea advancing to the Round of 32 are diminishing.
On June 25, Japan played to a 1-1 draw against Sweden in their final match of Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at Dallas Stadium in the United States.
Japan took the lead in the 56th minute with a goal from Daizen Maeda, but seven minutes later, they conceded an equalizer to Anthony Elanga, resulting in a draw. Consequently, Group F concluded with the Netherlands finishing first, Japan second, and Sweden third. Japan will face Brazil, the Group C winner, in the Round of 32.
For South Korea, the situation is grim. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, the top two teams from each group automatically advance to the Round of 32, while the best eight third-placed teams will also progress to the knockout stage.
Sweden finished with four points (one win, one draw, one loss), surpassing South Korea in the standings among third-placed teams. On the same day, Ecuador defeated Germany 2-1, also finishing with four points, which further complicated South Korea's chances of advancing to the Round of 32.
Currently, South Korea is ranked fifth among third-placed teams, but their advancement to the knockout stage hinges on the results of the remaining group matches.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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