Croatia and Japan secure last‑16 spots at 2026 World Cup

Croatia defeated Ghana 2‑1 in the final Group L match, with Petar Sucic scoring a long‑range strike and Nikola Vlasić heading the winner after Luka Modrić’s corner. The win gave the 2018 runners‑up second place in the group and a place in the round‑of‑32, where they will meet the K‑group runner‑up in Toronto on 3 July.

Japan drew 1‑1 with Sweden in Group F. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring before Sweden’s Anthony Elanga equalised. The result secured Japan’s second‑place finish and a knockout‑stage clash with group‑winner Brazil. Late in the match veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo entered at age 39 years 287 days, becoming the first Asian player to appear in five World Cup finals and the oldest Asian ever to play at the tournament.

Ghana, despite the loss, qualified as one of the best third‑placed teams, completing the set of 32 teams advancing to the knockout phase.