Thursday , 2 July 2026

Japan vs Spain, Worldcup 2022 GROUP STAGE

FIFA World Cup · 2022
Japan
2 – 1
Full Time
Spain
Thu 1 Dec 2022 · 19:00 UTC Khalifa International Stadium HT 45' · FT 45'
Ko Itakura 39' Y
Shogo Taniguchi 44' Y
Maya Yoshida 45' Y

Overview

Match Preview

Japan vs Spain — Worldcup at Khalifa International Stadium.

  • Japan 3 games · 5 pts (2026/26)
  • Spain 3 games · 7 pts (2026/26)

Match Details

  • Referee Zakhele Siwela
  • Referee Armando Villarreal
  • Referee Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)
  • Referee Victor Gomes (South Africa)
  • Referee Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho)
  • Referee Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 Mexico 3 9
2 South Africa 3 4
3 South Korea 3 3
4 Czechia 3 1
5 Switzerland 3 7
6 Canada 3 4
7 Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 4
8 Qatar 3 1
9 Brazil 3 7
10 Morocco 3 7
11 Scotland 3 3
12 Haiti 3 0
13 United States 3 6
14 Australia 3 4
15 Paraguay 3 4
16 Turkey 3 3
17 Germany 3 6
18 Ivory Coast 3 6
19 Ecuador 3 4
20 Curacao 3 1
21 Netherlands 3 7
22 Japan 3 5
23 Sweden 3 4
24 Tunisia 3 0
25 Belgium 3 5
26 Egypt 3 5
27 Iran 3 3
28 New Zealand 3 1
29 Spain 3 7
30 Cape Verde Islands 3 3
31 Uruguay 3 2
32 Saudi Arabia 3 2
33 France 3 9
34 Norway 3 6
35 Senegal 3 3
36 Iraq 3 0
37 Argentina 3 9
38 Austria 3 4
39 Algeria 3 4
40 Jordan 3 0
41 Colombia 3 7
42 Portugal 3 5
43 Congo DR 3 4
44 Uzbekistan 3 0
45 England 3 7
46 Croatia 3 6
47 Ghana 3 4
48 Panama 3 0

Head-to-Head

1
Japan 1 games · Avg 3.0 goals Spain
Last 5 meetings
2022-12-01 Japan 2–1 Spain

Recent Form

Japan
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
01 Dec Spain H 2–1 W
27 Nov Costa Rica H 0–1 L
23 Nov Germany A 2–1 W
24 Jun Ecuador A 1–1 D
20 Jun Uruguay A 2–2 D
17 Jun Chile H 0–4 L
Spain
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
01 Dec Japan A 1–2 L
27 Nov Germany H 1–1 D
23 Nov Costa Rica H 7–0 W
06 Jul Italy A 3–5 L
02 Jul Switzerland A 4–2 W
28 Jun Croatia A 5–3 W

Season Stats

Japan Spain
#22 Position #29
5 Points 7
3 Played 3
1 / 2 / 0 W / D / L 2 / 1 / 0
7 Scored 5
3 Conceded 0
+4 GD +5
1.67 PPG 2.33
33% Win % 67%

Key Stats

100% Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
100% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
25% Clean Sheets
Japan this season
100% Clean Sheets
Spain this season

Japan are 22nd (5 pts). Spain are 29th (7 pts).

Goal Timing (This Season)

Japan
0-15
1/–
16-30
1/–
31-45
1/–
46-60
2/2
61-75
1/2
76+
2/1
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Spain
0-15
1/–
16-30
2/–
31-45
1/–
46-60
–/–
61-75
–/–
76+
–/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded

Events

Match Events

  • 0' The ball is rolling at Khalifa International Stadium. Japan are looking to make home advantage count against Spain.
  • 5' Spain come into this ranked in Array. They desperately need points to push themselves up the standings.
  • 10' The Array continues to deliver drama. Both Japan and Spain are desperate not to drop points on matchday .
  • 11' What a moment for Alvaro Morata! That strike on 11 puts his side firmly in control.
  • 12' Clinical. Composed. Brilliant. Alvaro Morata makes it 0-2.
  • 17' It is a cagey affair so far. Japan in their trying to find a way past Spain's compact .
  • 22' The referee is likely to let players tackle, as he already missed some meaty challenges during opening seconds. He is still to establish what should not be done by the players and what is acceptable on the pitch. It’s going to be a tough game for Shuichi Gonda suffering a number of foals already.
  • 27' A moment of individual brilliance could settle this. Both teams are waiting for that decisive action.
  • 32' While players are taking a pause, let’s have a look at their stats. The teams met 0 times this season with winning -% of all matches.
  • 37' A tactical chess match is unfolding here. The question is which manager blinks first.
  • 39' Controversy at the stadium! Ko Itakura argues furiously but the Yellow card stands.
  • 44' Japan receives a Yellow card for a hard tackle on 44.
  • 45' That is a Yellow card for Japan. Maya Yoshida will be fuming at that decision.
  • 46' Takefusa Kubo makes way for Ritsu Doan at the 46 minute mark. A tactical switch from Japan.
  • 48' Magnificent from Ritsu Doan! That is 55 goals in 307 appearances — and it could not have come at a better time.
  • 51' A stunning finish from Ao Tanaka — that came from absolutely nowhere!
  • 53' Ao Tanaka with the second goal in the match!
  • 54' Ao Tanaka doubles the advantage! 4-2 and this game is slipping away from the opposition.
  • 57' Nico Williams makes way for Ferran Torres at the 57 minute mark. A tactical switch from Spain.
  • 62' Takuma Asano has so much to prove this time. He replaces Daizen Maeda on 62 minute.
  • 67' Daizen Maeda has been disciplined this evening — perhaps mindful of those 0 cards already picked up this season.
  • 68' Ansu Fati is replacing Pablo Gavira for the Spain side.
  • 69' Another change for Spain made on 69 minute. Alejandro Balde leaves to be changed by Jordi Alba.
  • 74' It’s high time Luis Enrique made some changes to put the his team’s game back to action.
  • 79' Spectators do not have much to choose from both teams. The sides had several scoring chances but they still need a bit more than just a sight of a goal.
  • 84' The energy levels are beginning to show. Hajime Moriyasu might look to freshen things up shortly.
  • 87' Wataru Endo has so much to prove this time. He replaces Ao Tanaka on 87 minute.
  • The final score is 2-1.

Lineups

Japan Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Hajime Moriyasu

Spain Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Luis Enrique

Predictions

Prediction accuracy
0 / 4
1 Japan xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.44 Spain xG
I would bet for: Japan or Spain 72% + Under 2.5 goals 56%

Match Result

✗ Wrong
Japan33% Draw28% Spain39%
Actual: Japan win

Both Teams to Score

✗ Wrong
Yes49% 0% No51%
Avg goals/match: 2.44
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✗ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 89%
11%
± 1.5 70%
30%
± 2.5 44%
56%
± 3.5 23%
77%
± 4.5 11%
89%

Double Chance

Japan or Draw
61%
Draw or Spain
67%
Japan or Spain
72%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong
Japan19% Draw49% Spain32%
Actual: Spain win at HT

Correct Score

✓ In top 12
1 – 1
13.4%
0 – 1
11.5%
0 – 0
10.8%
0 – 2
8.8%
1 – 2
8.7%
1 – 0
7.6%
2 – 1
Actual
2 – 2
4.4%
1 – 3
4.2%
2 – 0
4.2%
0 – 3
4.2%
2 – 3
2.2%

Asian Handicap — Japan

Handicap Japan covers Push Spain covers
-2.5 3% — 97%
-2 3% 7% 91%
-1.5 9% — 91%
-1 9% 15% 75%
-0.5 25% — 75%
+0.5 54% — 46%
+1 54% 23% 23%
+1.5 77% — 23%
+2 77% 14% 9%
+2.5 91% — 9%

Clean Sheet

Japan keeps clean sheet
24% ✓
Spain keeps clean sheet
37% ✓

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.