Spain vs Costa Rica prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for Women's World Cup 2023 group stage

Kyle Bonn

Spain vs Costa Rica prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for Women's World Cup 2023 group stage image

One of the pre-tournament favourites, Spain, take the field for the first time as they begin Women's World Cup play in New Zealand with their first match of Group C against Costa Rica.

Drawn against the Central Americans plus matches against Zambia and Japan to come, the European giants boast a huge compliment of talent in their prime — stars like Alexia Putellas, Jennifer Hermoso, Aitana Bonmati, and a host of other big-name players with top European clubs.

The Spanish national squad features 19 players of 23 total roster selections from either Barcelona or Real Madrid, underpinning not only the disparity between teams in the Spanish league, but also the wealth of talent available to the national side.

Costa Rica qualified via their semifinal appearance at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship and, led by Portland Thorns midfielder Raquel Rodriguez, they will be hoping to shock the world and reach the knockout round for the first time in history in just their second Women's World Cup showing.

MORE: Alexia Putellas tops charts as Sporting News identifies Top 10 players at 2023 Women's World Cup

Spain vs Costa Rica match facts

  • Date: Friday, July 21
  • Kickoff Time: 3:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. BST / 5:30 p.m. AEST
  • Location: Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington, New Zealand)
  • Official: Casey Reibelt (AUS)
  • Last meeting: Spain 1-1 Costa Rica (Jun. 9, 2015 | 2015 Women's World Cup)

Spain vs Costa Rica prediction, odds

  • Moneyline lean: Spain (-12,500)
  • Score prediction: Spain 3-0 Costa Rica

Spain are huge favourites as one of the world's top teams, but don't count the CONCACAF minnows out, at least not to the extent the betting market believes, with a massive 4.5 goal spread separating the sides.

Costa Rica finished level with this Spain side in their only previous meeting, a 1-1 draw back in the 2015 Women's World Cup, also pulled together in the group stage.

Spain are coming off a disappointing showing at last year's European Championships, with both Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso out injured, and while they are flying again with their best players back on the field, it's a concern that those recent demons have yet to be fully exorcised.

  Spain
win
Draw Costa Rica
win
Both teams
to score Y / N
Over / Under
4.5 goals
ESP
-4.5
COS
+4.5
BetMGM
(USA)
-12500 +2200 +5500 +320 / -600 -155 / +110 -115 -120
Sports
Interaction

(Canada)
1.01 14.00 30.00 3.60 / 1.20 1.68 / 2.06 1.85 1.89
SkyBet
(UK)
1/200 40/1 150/1 10/3, 1/5 4/7 , 5/4
Unibet
(Australia)
1.01 29.00 46.00 1.67 / 2.14 1.90 1.93
Dafabet
(India)
1.01 35.00 70.00 4.10 / 1.24 1.79 / 2.01 1.94 1.86

    Spain vs Costa Rica: best bet

    • Pick: Costa Rica +4.5 goal handicap
    • Odds: -120 (BetMGM)

    Spain are one of the tournament favourites, but they have a lot of questions still to be answered.

    First off, there's no guarantee that star midfielder Alexia Putellas is fit to start this match, as she's apparently dealing with some "physical discomfort" and training outside the team. While that doesn't sound like it would threaten her status at the tournament on the whole, it would be unwise for Spain to risk her here given that she is only recently back from a torn ACL.

    While they still have plenty of talent without her and are capable of getting by Costa Rica, her potential absence removes a massive component of their attacking flair.

    Costa Rica put forth a solid defensive showing at the CONCACAF W Championship, and while they were soundly beaten 3-0 by a methodical U.S. side and have serious trouble scoring goals, they can at least remain structured throughout the 90 minutes and keep Spain from running up the score.

    Spain vs Costa Rica live stream, TV channel

      TV channel Streaming
    USA FS1, Telemundo Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes site/app,
    Fox Sports site/app
    UK BBC Two BBC iPlayer, BBC website
    Australia  — Optus Sport
    Canada TSN1, TSN4, TSN5 TSN+, TSN site/app, RDS site/app
    India  — 1Stadia
    New Zealand Sky Sport 1 NZ Sky Sport NOW, Sky Go
    Singapore  — StarHub TV+
    Hong Kong Now TV Viu TV

    Kyle Bonn

    Kyle Bonn Photo

    Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.