Two of the most dominant teams in the early portion of the 2023 Women's World Cup meet to decide the Group C winner as Spain and Japan clash in New Zealand.
With both sides having already clinched spots in the knockout stage with a pair of dominant victories apiece, the result of this match will now determine who will top the standings and who will qualify as the runner-up.
Thanks to a one-goal differential advantage, Spain simply need a draw to finish group play atop the list, while Japan need victory to clinch first place.
The two teams have combined to score 15 goals through their first two matches, without conceding a single time. Both sides pummelled Zambia by a 5-0 score, and they each secured a multi-goal victory against Costa Rica as well.
MORE: Women's top World Cup goal scorer 2023
Japan vs Spain match facts
- Date: Monday, July 31, 2023
- Kickoff Time: 3 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. BST / 5 p.m. AEST
- Location: Sky Stadium (Wellington, New Zealand)
- Official: Ekaterina Katja Koroleva
- Last meeting: Spain 3-1 Japan (Mar. 5, 2020 | SheBelieves Cup)
Japan vs Spain prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Spain (-120)
- Score prediction: Japan 2-3 Spain
In the battle for Group C supremacy, Spain has the edge according to bookmakers, given their elite standing within the global game and their immense talent within the squad. Yet Japan, thanks to their performances thus far, are given more than just a punt to pull off the upset.
With both teams having played lockdown defence to this point, the betting market has skewed towards a lack of goals, despite each side also having lit up the scoresheet thus far.
Spain should come out ahead, given their unstoppable form to this point, but not without getting a run for their money from a Japan side that's been too hot to handle.
| Japan win | Draw | Spain win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 2.5 goals | ESP -0.5 | JPN +0.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | +320 | +240 | -120 | +110 / -155 | +120 / -175 | -130 | -110 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | +295 | +230 | -119 | +102 / -161 | +127 / -179 | -116 | -114 |
| SkyBet (UK) | 10/3 | 23/10 | 5/6 | 11/10, 4/6 | 11/8, 8/15 | — | — |
| Unibet (Australia) | 4.60 | 3.35 | 1.85 | 2.10 / 1.68 | 2.33 / 1.57 | 1.82 | 1.97 |
| Dafabet (India) | 4.40 | 3.14 | 1.74 | 2.08 / 1.66 | 2.30 / 1.55 | 1.77 | 1.93 |
Japan vs Spain best bet
- Pick: Over 2.5 total goals
- Odds: +120 (BetMGM)
Feed me the over at tasty odds. With both sides having already secured a knockout stage place and thus much less on the line, and both proving an ability to score goals, fans may be treated to an entertaining affair.
The onus here will likely be on Japan to find a goal, as Spain have looked utterly unplayable for much of their opening two matches, and Alexia Putellas continues to work towards full match fitness. However, the Asian underdogs have a number of in-form forwards for Spain to keep an eye on, and they will cause problems as well.
Japan vs Spain prop bet
- Pick: Mina Tanaka to score or assist a goal
- Odds: +250 (FanDuel)
While Jun Endo and Hinata Miyazawa have put forth positive performances in the attack, nobody has meant more to the flurry of Japan goals to start this tournament than Mina Tanaka. With a goal and three assists thus far, she's in fine form and will be the biggest threat for Spain to deal with defensively.
Tanaka has taken nine shots between the opening first two matches, the most of anyone on the team. Yet she's just as creative, creating seven chances and completing four of her five attempted line breaks thus far. She'll be heavily involved here, and will hope to occupy the Spain midfield to not only help in front of goal but in the possessional game as well.
Japan vs Spain flier bet
- Pick: Alexia Putellas to score and assist a goal
- Odds: +1084 (FanDuel)
We took this selection ahead of Spain's last match against Zambia, and only her withdrawal at halftime stopped what would likely have come through. Starting and playing the first 45 minutes, Putellas was electric, clearly back to her best, picking up an assist and cropping up on a few occasions in the penalty area, managing to get one shot off for her troubles.
Jennifer Hermoso has been the goal scoring star for Spain thus far, but she's had lots of help in that department from Spain's midfield. Aitana Bonmati scored a goal against Costa Rica in the opener, and both Teresa Abelleira and Alba Redondo (Putellas's halftime replacement, of course) managed to find the back of the net against Zambia.
With Putellas gaining match fitness and likely (hopefully) to stretch further into games, there should be room for this in what we are predicting to be a high-scoring match given the circumstances.
Japan vs Spain live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | FOX, Telemundo | Fubo, Fox Sports site/app, Peacock (Spanish), Telemundo Deportes site/app |
| UK | ITV 1, STV Scotland | ITVX, STV Player |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| Canada | TSN1, TSN4 | TSN+, TSN site/app, RDS site/app |
| India | — | FanCode |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport 1 NZ | Prime TV, Sky Sport NOW |
| Singapore | FIFA WWC CH01 | meWATCH |
| Hong Kong | Now TV | Now Player, Now Prime |
| Malaysia | — | FIFA+ |
Fans in select regions of the world can stream the Women's World Cup live on FIFA+, including in Japan, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand.
