Japan defeated Spain 2–1 on Thursday, 1 December 2022, in a decisive Group Stage match on Matchday 3 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The match kicked off at 19:00 UTC, with V. Gomes serving as the referee, and Spain held a 1–0 lead at half-time.

This result dramatically reshaped the Group E standings. Japan’s victory secured them top spot in the group, advancing to the knockout stage with six points from three matches. For Spain, the loss meant they finished second in the group on four points, narr...