Japan vs Spain Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips – 2022 World Cup: Who Will Win?

💯Japan vs Spain Betting Odds

There are a number of popular football betting markets associated with Japan vs Spain, including straight match betting, backing both sides to score and the over/under market pertaining to the total number of goals scored in the game.

We’ve outlined these in detail below, while listing the latest real-time football world cup 2022 odds provided by our recommended bookies.

🏅 Japan vs Spain Odds: Match Winner

Below we are providing you with Japan Vs Spain football world cup odds 2022 outright table from the best betting sites in Ireland and the UK. Let's see the various favourite world cup bookies odds.

Japan to Win	8.21	8.25	9.00	9.00	8.00	8.00	9.00
Spain to Win	1.40	1.37	1.41	1.40	2.05	1.36	1.36
Draw	8.21	4.50	4.70	4.50	4.50	4.60	4.60

⚽ Japan vs Spain Odds: Both Teams to Score

Yes	2.05	1.96	2.04	1.91	1.91	1.95	2.00
No	1.78	1.72	1.77	1.80	1.80	1.75	1.73

🥅 Japan vs Spain Odds: Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Over 2.5 Goals	1.75	1.67	1.76	1.67	1.73	1.70	1.73
Under 2.5 Goals	2.13	2.03	2.10	2.10	2.10	2.05	2.00

🏠 Japan Football World Cup Preview

Japan is a side worthy of respect, as the nation showcased during an exceptional level of performance in Russia 2018 and throughout AFC qualifying for Qatar.

The side is also ranked as the second-best AFC side according to FIFA’s most recent August rankings, which also reaffirm Japan as the 24th best team in the world overall.

Japan is also in a solid vein of form that has been sustained throughout 2022, which has seen them lose just two of 13 matches this calendar year. This sequence has included a number of genuinely impressive performances at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship and Kirin Challenge Cup, such as the recent 3-0 thumping of AFC rivals South Korea in July and a composed 2-0 win over World Cup rivals the USA.

Overall, the side is unbeaten in five matches and has not conceded a goal since a 3-0 reversal to Tunisia in June, so the players are sure to arrive in Qatar confident and in a rich vein of form.

🏆 Japan World Cup History

Interestingly, Japan will make their seventh WC finals appearance in Qatar 2022, while the tournament will also mark the side’s seventh consecutive appearance in the world’s premier footballing competition.

Incredibly, Japan didn’t make their debut at the finals until France ’98, prior to which they either chose not to enter or failed to qualify (they were also banned from participating in 1950 following the continued fallout from World War II).

Since debuting in 1998, the nation has alternated between group stage exits (1998, 2006 and 2014) and being eliminated in the round of 16 (2002, 2010 and 2018), suggesting that another early departure from Qatar could be on the cards if this pattern is to be maintained.

However, we should note Japan’s current form and strong performance during qualification, while the team also excelled in the 2018 World Cup and almost eliminated Belgium in the second round. In fact, they led 2-0 after an hour in Rostov-on-Don after outplaying their illustrious rivals, before a late comeback saw the Red Devils seal a quarterfinal place with a 94th-minute winner.

✔️ Japan Qualification and Road to the World Cup 2022

As one of the top two ranked Asian teams, Japan was given an automatic bye into the second round of AFC qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

They then went on to win all eight of their qualification matches during the second round, scoring an incredible 46 goals (including 24 in just two incredible matches against Mongolia and Myanmar) and conceding only two as they coasted into the third and final round of games.

The nation sealed their place in Qatar by subsequently winning seven of their 10 group matches during the third round, finishing second to Saudi Arabia while maintaining a seven-point gap ahead of a disappointing Australia team in third place. Here’s a quick glance at Japan’s qualification results:

⭐ Japan Players to Watch

Japan has a number of players who ply their trade in Europe, including familiar leagues like the EPL and Scottish Premiership. We’ve profiled three in more detail below, each of whom will be looking to make their mark on the biggest of international stages.

• Takumi Minamino: Liverpool fans will be familiar with (and fond of) the livewire forward Takumi Minamino, who scored 14 goals in 55 matches during his time at Anfield and 10 in a productive 2021/22 campaign. The quick and fleet-of-foot wide forward has also scored 17 goals in 42 international games, nine of which came during the course of AFC WC qualifying. Blessed with exceptional dribbling skills and boundless energy, he’s a nightmare for any defender whether Japan are in or out of possession at any given time.
• Takehiro Tomiyasu: At the other end of the pitch is Arsenal’s versatile and composed defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has recently returned from injury and can switch seamlessly between centre back and right back. He’s usually deployed as a ball-playing centre half for his country, with Tomiyasu winning 28 caps for his country since making an impressive debut in a 3-0 win over Panama in 2018. Cool, calm and highly organised, Tomiyasu will play a key role in Japan’s defensive line against stellar opponents like Spain and Germany.
• Kyogo Furuhashi: Last, but not least, is Celtic’s diminutive and prolific forward Kyogo Furuhashi. Another livewire striker who never stops running and has a low centre of gravity, Furuhashi typically operates centrally and is considered to be something of an instinctive finisher in front of goal. To this end, he has struck 26 goals in just 41 appearances for Celtic, while also scoring three times in 16 international appearance to date. This included three crucial goals during WC qualifying.

📰 Latest Japan World News

✈️ Spain World Cup Preview

Spain is currently ranked sixth in the world by FIFA, with the recent August listings also establishing them as the de facto fourth best footballing nation in Europe at present.

Unsurprisingly, they’re considered as one of the favourites to lift the Jules Rimet trophy in Qatar, with manager Luis Enrique having created a technically outstanding side that’s difficult to beat and has lost just four times in 42 matches across his two spells in charge between July 2018 and the present day.

Two of these defeats have come in the last 12 matches since October 6th, including a 2-1 reversal to France in last year’s UEFA Nations League final and a similar defeat to Switzerland in the 2022 tournament barely one week ago.

However, Spain’s hard-fought 1-0 win in Portugal a few days later ensured that the nation qualified for its second successive Nations League finals, while underlining the team’s credentials ahead of a promising World Cup campaign.

🏆 Spain World Cup History

Qatar will see Spain participate in their 16th World Cup finals, while the nation will also make their 12th consecutive appearance at the tournament (with this impressive run having commenced in 1978).

Prior to this sequence, Spain missed six of the 10 tournaments contested, with their fourth-place finish in 1950 following an enforced hiatus due to the impact of the Spanish Civil War.

Since 1978, Spain have reached four quarterfinals from 11 attempts, progressing beyond this stage just once when they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in South Africa in 2010.

The last two tournaments have resulted in one group stage exit (as the defending champions in 2014) and a round of 16 knockout, so Enrique and his charges will be determined to shrug off their reputation as relative underachievers and enjoy a run deep into the tournament in Qatar.

✔️ Spain Qualification and Road to the World Cup 2022

Fourth-ranked Spain were drawn into UEFA Qualification Group B ahead of the World Cup, alongside Sweden, Greece, Georgia and Kosovo.

As expected, the side qualified comfortably too, shrugging off a 1-1 draw at home with Greece and a subsequent 2-1 defeat in Sweden to win their remaining six matches and top Group B by four points ahead of the Swedes.

We’ve outlined Spain’s qualification results in full below, during which Enrique’s side scored 15 goals in total and conceded just five.

⭐ Spain Players to Watch

We’d wager that you’re familiar with most of the Spanish squad, many of whom play for Spain’s biggest clubs and EPL sides such as Manchester City and Chelsea. Here’s our pick of the top three to keep your eyes on this winter:

• Pedri: Despite being just 19, Pedri has already showcased maturity beyond his years, having won 14 caps to date and starred in Spain’s run to the semi-finals in 2021. A thrilling ball carrier and technician who operates in the middle of the park, Pedri is afforded the freedom to roam forward for both club and country, with his tally of 14 goals and multiple assists in 119 club matches highlighting his impact in the final third. He also earned the deserved honour of winning the prestigious ‘Golden Boy’ trophy for Europe’s best younger player in 2021.
• Gavi: Pedri’s Spain and Barcelona teammate Gavi is even younger at 18 years old, while he recently signed a bumper new contract with the Catalan side that includes a €1 billion release clause. Having won 12 caps (scoring a single goal in the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League) and already been compared to Barca club legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta, he’ll be a likely starter alongside Busquets and Pedri in Qatar, while he has the distinction of being his country’s youngest ever goal scorer at senior level.
• Álvaro Morata : While Atletico Madrid striker Álvaro Morata continues to divide opinion among fans, he has always been a reliable performer at international level. In fact, he has 27 international goals in 57 games for his country, while the 29-year-old scored four times in eight matches during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Throughout his club career, Morata has scored 184 goals in 504 appearances, while he’s set to lead the line with strength and distinction for Spain in the Middle East.

📰 Latest Spain World Cup News

🥇 Japan vs Spain Prediction - Who Will Win?

Not only are Spain clear favourites to qualify from Group E alongside their fellow UEFA rivals Germany, but the bookies also think that they’ll defeat Japan at a canter at the Khalifa International Stadium.

We tend to agree with this assertion too, with Spain boasting an incredibly talented squad of players that has proven to be incredibly difficult to beat under the stewardship of former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique.

We certainly expect Spain to dominate possession against their rivals, with the only real question being how ruthless they’re likely to be with the chances they create in front of goal?

Our match prediction: Spain to win.

🔍 Our Japan vs Spain Betting Tips?

The odds are indicative of the one-sided nature of this contest, with Spain heavy odds-on favourites with an average price of around 1.30 with our recommended sportsbooks.

So, there’s little value to be had with straight match betting here, although you may want to apply a -1.5 or -2.5 goal handicap to Spain to extend the odds in your favour and bank a potentially higher return on your stake (provided they win by the requisite margin).

🎁 Japan vs Spain World Cup Free Bets

Before you place your bets on the outcome of Japan vs Spain and its affiliated markets, you may want to compare and contrast the free World Cup bet offers below.

Some of these unlock very generous matched deposits and free bets, and can help you to unlock the optimal value for your hard-earned cash.

Sportsbook	Offer	Visit Sportsbook
	Receive up to €100 in Free Bets	Visit TonyBet Sports
	Free Bet Offer up to €100	Visit Palmslots Sport
	Bet €10 Get €50 in Free Bets	Visit BoyleSports
	Free Bet Offer up to €50	Visit LeoVegas
	Free Bet Offer up to €50	Visit BetVictor
	€20 Free Bet Bonus	Visit Ladbrokes Sports
	€30 free bet Welcome Bonus	Visit William Hill
	€100 Bets Bonus Offer	Visit Sportaza
	Receive up to €10 Free Bet Bonus	Visit Luckster Sports
	Cash back bonus up to €40
	100% Matched Free Bet up to €100	Visit Rabona Sports
	€30 Free Bets Welcome Bonus	Visit Spreadex Sports

✒️ Lewis Humphries - Sports Journalist, Tipster and Betting Expert

This Japan Vs Spain 2022WC Prediction was written by Lewis Humphries. Lewis is a business and iGaming copywriter from the UK, who has a passion for sports betting and online casino gaming. He's reviewed some of the world's leading casino platforms, while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands.

His content has also featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.