Japan's 2026 World Cup draw with Sweden reinforces their status as Europe's "nemesis"

Nearly 3,000 days since Japan last lost to a European side.

Considering only results within 90 minutes and extra time (excluding penalty shootouts), Japan's most recent defeat to a European team was a 2-3 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup on July 2, 2018. Since then, the land of the rising sun has gone nearly 3,000 days without losing to any UEFA opponent.

During this impressive streak, Japan has recorded 8 wins and 3 draws, scoring 20 goals while conceding only 9. This is a rare achievement for an Asian team consistently facing top football nations worldwide.

The streak began with a 1-0 friendly win over Serbia in June 2021. However, the biggest turning point came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Japan caused successive upsets. Coach Hajime Moriyasu's side defeated Germany 2-1 in their opening Group E match, then repeated the same scoreline against Spain in their final group game.

In the Round of 16 of that tournament, Japan made Croatia work hard. The two sides were level at 1-1 after 120 minutes before Croatia advanced via penalties. Despite being eliminated, Japan's performance demonstrated their ability to compete on equal terms with traditional European powerhouses.

That form continued after the World Cup. In September 2023, Japan shocked Germany with a 4-1 away victory, a result that cost coach Hansi Flick his job. A few days later, they followed up with a 4-2 friendly win over Turkey in Belgium.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Japan maintained their consistency by defeating Scotland 1-0, England 1-0, and Iceland 1-0 in succession. At the tournament in North America, the "Blue Samurai" extended their impressive run with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands and most recently a 1-1 draw with Sweden. In that match, Japan's expected goals (xG) was three times that of their opponents. This also marks the second time Japan has gone unbeaten in the group stage (1 win, 2 draws), following their first such achievement in 2002 (2 wins, 1 draw) when they were co-hosts.

What stands out in this streak is not just the results but also the way Japan plays. They have shown tactical maturity, solid defensive organization, and highly effective pressing and transition play. Victories over Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands are no longer seen as mere upsets but reflect the remarkable progress of Japanese football.

With this long-running unbeaten record against European teams, Japan is gradually closing the gap between Asian football and the world's elite. The "Blue Samurai" are no longer just a team capable of springing surprises at the World Cup; they have become an opponent that any European representative must treat with caution.