Hiromi Yoshida (second to left) from Japan applies face paint to Nobuhisa Yoshida from Japan cheers outside of the Walmart across from Dallas Stadium in Arlington, TX before World Cup Japan’s Group F match against Sweden on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Sweden and Japan are set to face off at 6 p.m. Thursday at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in a Group F FIFA World Cup match.
It’s Japan’s second time playing at the stadium after playing to a 2-2 draw with Netherlands, while it’s Sweden’s first, but the team has been based in Frisco for the tournament.
Steve, Abby, Alejandra and Monica Chew from Sutherland Springs, TX wait in line to enter Dallas Stadium in Arlington, TX before Japan and Sweden’s World Cup Group F on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Read below for more information about the teams and what they’ve been up to in North Texas, and follow along here for live updates from fans at the stadium during the game.
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Sweden’s Isak Hien, who is visibly limping, is helped off the field and promptly replaced by Lucas Bergvall off the bench.
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The medical staff run out to treat Sweden’s Isak Hien, who is down on the field inside his own 6-yard box. He went down trying to defend a Japanese cross a moment ago.
Sweden’s Isak Hien receives a yellow card for pulling down Japan’s Ayase Ueda who had nearly got past him on the break.
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Inside Texas Live! , fans of all ages gathered to watch Japan’s World Cup match, with many of them local residents.
Among them was Takako Rogers, 44, who moved to Dallas from Japan more than a decade ago and attended the watch party with her family to support Japan.
“We are originally from Japan, but we have lived in Dallas for over 10 years,” Rogers said.
– Maria Salette Ontiveros
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Four men stood at the entrance of a bar inside Texas Live!, dressed as characters from Dragon Ball, a Japanese media franchise.
While they do not have tickets for the Japan vs. Sweden game, the four attended the Japan vs. Netherlands game, which Andy Martinez, 27, said was amazing. For this match, he dressed in orange and blue as the character Goku.
Eddie Mosqueda, 27, said the group dressed up in an effort to have a great time. Mosqueda was dressed as the character Vegeta, wearing blue and white.
Marcos Salazar, 29, sporting a purple and green outfit to represent the character Piccolo, said Japan was the group’s second favorite team — only after Mexico.
“I’ve never met any group of people like the Japanese who have been more passionate for soccer or football,” Martinez said.
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The teams are scoreless through the first third of the first half. The highlight thus far is perhaps the showing of Dallas Mavericks great Dirk Nowitzki on the giant video board at Dallas Stadium. Nowitzki’s wife, Jessica, was born in Sweden.
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Al Martinez, 24, stood inside Texas Live! sporting a Japan jersey and holding up a sign that read “Looking for a Japanese Girlfriend.”
He drove two and a half hours from Tyler, despite not having tickets to the game, to attend a watch party near the stadium and support Japan.
“I’m so excited to see Takefusa Kubo, even though he is injured,” Martinez said. “I’m so happy to be here.”
From Tokyo to Dallas, one Japan fan is soaking up the World Cup experience — Texas barbecue, familiar summer heat and all. 🇯🇵⚽️
After trying Terry Black’s Barbecue and comparing Dallas weather to his hometown of Tokyo, he’s ready to cheer on Japan as they face Sweden tonight.… pic.twitter.com/GJJSj8Ncxg
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) June 25, 2026
Amid the chants, music and packed crowds at Texas Live! ahead of the World Cup match, 20-year-old Ethan Delgado said the tournament has become more than just soccer — it has become a place for connection.
Delgado, a Celina resident, has been outside Texas Live! since noon playing music and meeting fans from around the world.
He said that one of the things he has enjoyed the most is meeting people from all over the world.
“That’s what we need in the world. We need connection, unity and fun.”
Delgado said the atmosphere is contagious, with one person dancing or playing music often inspiring others to join in.
“It all starts with one opportunity,” he said. “I started dancing, I started playing, and soon enough, you have a whole family together.”
Delgado said he has made friends from England, Croatia, Morocco and Sweden during the World Cup festivities.
“It’s amazing to see people of all different cultures, all different colors, coming together to share one thing,” he said.
– Maria Salette Ontiveros
Madee and her husband, Magnus, have called Dallas home for more than two decades, but the World Cup has brought part of her Swedish family to North Texas.
Outside the stadium, Madee, who is eight months pregnant and had a soccer ball painted on her belly, said her family traveled from Sweden for the tournament.
Madee was born in Stockholm and lived there for eight years before moving to the United States. She said her father, also named Magnus, is Scottish.
“We love it,” Madee said of living in Dallas. “Obviously.”
The family arrived outside the stadium and was looking forward to the matchday atmosphere.
“We’re so excited,” she said. “It’s great to have it in our time zone.”
– Maria Salette Ontiveros
Satoru Takizawa from Tokyo poses with a sign that reads “Dallas I’m Back” outside of the Walmart across from Dallas Stadium in Arlington, TX before Japan’s World Cup Group F match against Sweden on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Where: Dallas Stadium, Arlington
TV/streaming: FOX Sports, Telemundo; streaming live on Peacock
The Swedish national team has become very familiar with North Texas during the World Cup, training at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, but the team had yet to play at AT&T Stadium before Thursday.
Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1 in its opening game of the tournament in Mexico, but it was on the losing end of another 5-1 match against the Netherlands in Houston.
Japan won Group E four years ago, besting soccer superpowers and past champions Germany and Spain, and it will have to advance past some more stiff competition in 2026. The team has been drawn into Group F with perennial title contenders the Netherlands, as well as Sweden and Tunisia.
The Japanese got off to a good start, playing to a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium in its World Cup opener and beating Tunisia 4-0 in Mexico.
— Japan fans turn downtown Dallas into a sea of blue before pivotal World Cup match
— Swedish fans celebrate at friendly ahead of World Cup match against Japan
— The aftermarket ticket prices to see the Japan-Sweden match
— Japan vs. Sweden weather: Extreme heat could rattle World Cup fans
— Team Sweden manager soaking up every bit of Texas he can
— A 36-hour World Cup odyssey to Mexico with Japanese fans: Buc-ee’s, tequila and celebration
— High rideshare demand at Dallas Stadium pushes regional officials to adjust transportation plans
— Dallas Guide: Where to eat, things to do while World Cup is in town