Group C of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was one of eight groups that formed the opening round of the tournament with the matches played from 21 to 31 July 2023. The group consisted of Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia and Japan. The top two teams, Japan and Spain, advanced to the round of 16.
Japan secured their place in the knockout stage with wins in all three group games without conceding, a first for the country. With six points, Spain earned more points this year than in their previous Women's World Cups combined; a total of five across two editions. Despite being eliminated, debutants Zambia secured their first and only win in their last match against faltering Costa Rica, finishing third in the group.
Teams Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2022 June 2023 C1 1 UEFA UEFA Group B winners 12 April 2022 3rd 2019 Round of 16 (2019) 6 6 C2 3 CONCACAF 2022 CONCACAF W Championship fourth place 8 July 2022 2nd 2015 Group stage (2015) 37 36 C3 4 CAF 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations third place 13 July 2022 1st — Debut 81 77 C4 2 AFC 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup semi-finalists 30 January 2022 9th 2019 Winners (2011) 11 11 Notes
Standings
In the round of 16: The winners of Group C, Japan, advanced to play the runners-up of Group A, Norway. The runners-up of Group C, Spain, advanced to play the winners of Group A, Switzerland.
Matches All times listed are local, NZST (UTC+12).
Spain vs Costa Rica
GK 1 Misa RodríguezRB 2 Ona Batlle CB 4 Irene ParedesCB 5 Ivana Andrés (c)LB 19Olga CarmonaDM 3 Teresa Abelleira CM 6 Aitana BonmatíCM 10Jennifer HermosoRF 22Athenea del Castillo CF 9 Esther González LF 18Salma Paralluelo Substitutions:FW 8 Mariona Caldentey FW 17Alba Redondo MF 21Claudia Zornoza MF 11Alexia Putellas DF 12Oihane Hernández Manager:Jorge Vilda GK 23Daniela SoleraCB 20Fabiola VillalobosCB 4 Mariana BenavidesCB 5 Valeria del CampoRM 3 María CotoCM 10Gloriana Villalobos CM 16Katherine Alvarado (c)LM 12María Paula Elizondo RF 7 Melissa HerreraCF 9 María Paula Salas LF 14Priscila ChinchillaSubstitutions:MF 15Cristín Granados MF 19Alexandra Pinell MF 21Sheika Scott Manager:Amelia Valverde
Player of the Match: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)
Assistant referees: Ramina Tsoi (Kyrgyzstan) Xie Lijun (China) Fourth official: Kim Yu-jeong (South Korea) Video assistant referee: Marco Fritz (Germany) Assistant video assistant referee: Armando Villarreal (United States) Offside video assistant referee: Sian Massey-Ellis (England)
Zambia vs Japan
GK 1 Catherine Musonda RB 8 Margaret BelemuCB 15Agness MusaseCB 3 Lushomo Mweemba LB 13Martha TemboDM 4 Susan BandaCM 14Ireen Lungu CM 12Evarine KatongoRF 17Racheal KundananjiCF 11Barbra Banda (c)LF 19Siomala Mapepa Substitutions:FW 7 Lubandji Ochumba MF 21Avell Chitundu DF 23Vast Phiri GK 18Eunice Sakala Manager:Bruce Mwape GK 1 Ayaka YamashitaCB 23Rion IshikawaCB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)CB 3 Moeka MinamiRM 2 Risa ShimizuCM 10Fūka NaganoCM 14Yui HasegawaLM 13Jun Endō RF 15Aoba Fujino CF 11Mina Tanaka LF 7 Hinata Miyazawa Substitutions:FW 9 Riko Ueki MF 8 Hikaru Naomoto DF 17Kiko Seike FW 22Remina Chiba Manager:Futoshi Ikeda
Player of the Match: Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)
Assistant referees: Lucie Ratajová (Czech Republic) Polyxeni Irodotou (Cyprus) Fourth official: Anahí Fernández (Uruguay) Video assistant referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy) Assistant video assistant referee: Salomé Di Iorio (Argentina) Offside video assistant referee: Franca Overtoom (Netherlands)
Japan vs Costa Rica
GK 1 Ayaka YamashitaCB 5 Shiori MiyakeCB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)CB 3 Moeka MinamiRM 2 Risa Shimizu CM 14Yui HasegawaCM 16Honoka Hayashi LM 6 Hina SugitaRF 15Aoba Fujino CF 11Mina Tanaka LF 8 Hikaru Naomoto Substitutions:MF 7 Hinata Miyazawa FW 9 Riko Ueki MF 10Fūka Nagano DF 17Kiko Seike DF 19Miyabi Moriya Manager:Futoshi Ikeda GK 23Daniela SoleraRB 3 María CotoCB 20Fabiola VillalobosCB 4 Mariana BenavidesLB 12María Paula ElizondoRM 7 Melissa HerreraCM 16Katherine Alvarado (c)CM 15Cristín Granados LM 2 Gabriela Guillén CF 9 María Paula Salas CF 14Priscila Chinchilla Substitutions:MF 10Gloriana Villalobos MF 11Raquel Rodríguez MF 21Sheika Scott Manager:Amelia Valverde
Player of the Match: Hikaru Naomoto (Japan)
Assistant referees: Francesca Di Monte (Italy) Mihaela Țepușă (Romania) Fourth official: Myriam Marcotte (Canada) Video assistant referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy) Assistant video assistant referee: Salomé di Iorio (Argentina) Offside video assistant referee: Sian Massey-Ellis (England)
Spain vs Zambia
GK 1 Misa RodríguezRB 2 Ona Batlle CB 4 Irene ParedesCB 5 Ivana Andrés (c)LB 19Olga CarmonaDM 3 Teresa AbelleiraCM 6 Aitana Bonmatí CM 11Alexia Putellas RF 18Salma Paralluelo CF 10Jennifer HermosoLF 8 Mariona Caldentey Substitutions:FW 17Alba Redondo DF 12Oihane Hernández FW 15Eva Navarro MF 7 Irene Guerrero FW 22Athenea del Castillo Manager:Jorge Vilda GK 18Eunice SakalaRB 8 Margaret BelemuCB 15Agness MusaseCB 3 Lushomo Mweemba LB 13Martha Tembo DM 4 Susan Banda CM 14Ireen LunguCM 12Evarine Katongo RF 19Siomala Mapepa CF 11Barbra Banda (c)LF 17Racheal KundananjiSubstitutions:MF 6 Mary Wilombe MF 21Avell Chitundu FW 7 Ochumba Lubandji DF 23Vast Phiri Manager:Bruce Mwape
Player of the Match: Jennifer Hermoso (Spain)
Assistant referees: Lee Seul-gi (South Korea) Park Mi-suk (South Korea) Fourth official: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia) Video assistant referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore) Assistant video assistant referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar) Offside video assistant referee: Ella De Vries (Belgium)
Japan vs Spain Japan's 23% of possession was the lowest for a winning side at the Women's World Cup since this stat began being recorded in 2011. This match was compared to the Japan men's team's victory against Spain at the 2022 World Cup, in which Japan's 18% of possession was also the lowest for a winning side at the men's World Cup since recording began in 1966.
GK 1 Ayaka YamashitaCB 12Hana TakahashiCB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)CB 3 Moeka MinamiRM 2 Risa Shimizu CM 10Fūka Nagano CM 16Honoka HayashiLM 13Jun Endō RF 7 Hinata Miyazawa CF 9 Riko Ueki LF 8 Hikaru NaomotoSubstitutions:MF 15Aoba Fujino DF 19Miyabi Moriya MF 14Yui Hasegawa FW 11Mina Tanaka MF 6 Hina Sugita Manager:Futoshi Ikeda GK 1 Misa RodríguezRB 2 Ona BatlleCB 4 Irene ParedesCB 20Rocío GálvezLB 19Olga Carmona (c) DM 3 Teresa Abelleira CM 6 Aitana BonmatíCM 11Alexia Putellas RF 18Salma Paralluelo CF 10Jennifer HermosoLF 8 Mariona Caldentey Substitutions:DF 12Oihane Hernández FW 15Eva Navarro FW 17Alba Redondo MF 21Claudia Zornoza FW 9 Esther González Manager:Jorge Vilda
Player of the Match: Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)
Assistant referees: Kathryn Nesbitt (United States) Felisha Mariscal (United States) Fourth official: Myriam Marcotte (Canada) Video assistant referee: Drew Fischer (Canada) Assistant video assistant referee: Armando Villarreal (United States) Offside video assistant referee: Mariana de Almeida (Argentina)
Costa Rica vs Zambia
GK 23Daniela SoleraRB 5 Valeria del Campo CB 20Fabiola VillalobosCB 4 Mariana Benavides LB 3 María CotoCM 16Katherine Alvarado (c) CM 11Raquel RodríguezRW 7 Melissa HerreraAM 10Gloriana Villalobos LW 14Priscila ChinchillaCF 21Sheika Scott Substitutions:FW 9 María Paula Salas MF 13Emilie Valenciano MF 19Alexandra Pinell Manager:Amelia Valverde GK 1 Catherine MusondaRB 8 Margaret BelemuCB 15Agness MusaseCB 3 Lushomo MweembaLB 13Martha Tembo DM 4 Susan BandaCM 20Hellen Chanda CM 12Evarine Katongo RF 21Avell Chitundu CF 11Barbra Banda (c) LF 17Racheal KundananjiSubstitutions:MF 6 Mary Wilombe MF 19Siomala Mapepa MF 9 Hellen Mubanga Manager:Bruce Mwape
Player of the Match: Barbra Banda (Zambia)
Assistant referees: Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco) Soukaina Hamdi (Morocco) Fourth official: Kim Yu-jeong (South Korea) Video assistant referee: Adil Zourak (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar) Offside video assistant referee: Sian Massey-Ellis (England)
Discipline Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers in the group should the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows: first yellow card: minus 1 point; indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points; direct red card: minus 4 points; yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;
Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.
TeamMatch 1Match 2Match 3Points 0 2 –2 1 3 –4 1 2 2 –7
See also Costa Rica at the FIFA Women's World Cup Japan at the FIFA Women's World Cup Spain at the FIFA Women's World Cup Zambia at the FIFA Women's World Cup
References
External links