# 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C

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 of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | FIFA Rankings | FIFA Rankings |
| Draw position | Team | Pot | Confederation | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | October 2022 | June 2023 |
| C1 | Spain | 1 | UEFA | UEFA Group B winners | 12 April 2022 | 3rd | 2019 | Round of 16 (2019) | 6 | 6 |
| C2 | Costa Rica | 3 | CONCACAF | 2022 CONCACAF W Championship fourth place | 8 July 2022 | 2nd | 2015 | Group stage (2015) | 37 | 36 |
| C3 | Zambia | 4 | CAF | 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations third place | 13 July 2022 | 1st | — | Debut | 81 | 77 |
| C4 | Japan | 2 | AFC | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup semi-finalists | 30 January 2022 | 9th | 2019 | Winners (2011) | 11 | 11 |
Notes
* ↑ The rankings of October 2022 were used for seeding for the final draw.

## Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | +11 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Zambia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 3 | |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0 | |
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

| Spain | Costa Rica |
| GK | 1 | Misa Rodríguez |
| RB | 2 | Ona Batlle | 88' |
| CB | 4 | Irene Paredes |
| CB | 5 | Ivana Andrés (c) |
| LB | 19 | Olga Carmona |
| CM | 6 | Aitana Bonmatí |
| CM | 3 | Teresa Abelleira | 77' |
| RW | 22 | Athenea del Castillo | 63' |
| AM | 10 | Jennifer Hermoso |
| LW | 18 | Salma Paralluelo | 77' |
| CF | 9 | Esther González | 63' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 8 | Mariona Caldentey | 63' |
| FW | 17 | Alba Redondo | 63' |
| MF | 21 | Claudia Zornoza | 77' |
| MF | 11 | Alexia Putellas | 77' |
| DF | 12 | Oihane Hernández | 88' |
| Manager: ||
| Jorge Vilda ||
| GK | 23 | Daniela Solera |
| CB | 20 | Fabiola Villalobos |
| CB | 4 | Mariana Benavides |
| CB | 5 | Valeria del Campo |
| RM | 3 | María Coto |
| CM | 16 | Katherine Alvarado (c) |
| CM | 10 | Gloriana Villalobos | 73' |
| LM | 12 | María Paula Elizondo | 58' |
| RF | 7 | Melissa Herrera |
| CF | 9 | María Paula Salas | 73' |
| LF | 14 | Priscila Chinchilla |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Cristín Granados | 58' |
| MF | 19 | Alexandra Pinell | 73' |
| MF | 21 | Sheika Scott | 73' |
| 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

| Zambia | Japan |
| GK | 1 | Catherine Musonda |
| RB | 8 | Margaret Belemu |
| CB | 15 | Agness Musase |
| CB | 3 | Lushomo Mweemba | 82' |
| LB | 13 | Martha Tembo |
| RM | 12 | Evarine Katongo |
| CM | 4 | Susan Banda |
| CM | 14 | Ireen Lungu | 72' |
| LM | 17 | Racheal Kundananji |
| CF | 19 | Siomala Mapepa | 72' |
| CF | 11 | Barbra Banda (c) |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 7 | Lubandji Ochumba | 72' |
| MF | 21 | Avell Chitundu | 72' 90+9' |
| DF | 23 | Vast Phiri | 82' |
| GK | 18 | Eunice Sakala | 90+9' |
| Manager: ||
| Bruce Mwape ||
| GK | 1 | Ayaka Yamashita |
| CB | 23 | Rion Ishikawa |
| CB | 4 | Saki Kumagai (c) |
| CB | 3 | Moeka Minami |
| RM | 2 | Risa Shimizu |
| CM | 14 | Yui Hasegawa |
| CM | 10 | Fūka Nagano |
| CM | 7 | Hinata Miyazawa | 90+3' |
| LM | 13 | Jun Endō | 77' |
| CF | 15 | Aoba Fujino | 77' |
| CF | 11 | Mina Tanaka | 66' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Riko Ueki | 66' |
| MF | 8 | Hikaru Naomoto | 77' |
| DF | 17 | Kiko Seike | 77' |
| FW | 22 | Remina Chiba | 90+3' |
| 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

| Japan | Costa Rica |
| GK | 1 | Ayaka Yamashita |
| CB | 5 | Shiori Miyake |
| CB | 4 | Saki Kumagai (c) |
| CB | 3 | Moeka Minami |
| RM | 2 | Risa Shimizu | 90+1' |
| CM | 16 | Honoka Hayashi | 74' |
| CM | 8 | Hikaru Naomoto | 74' |
| CM | 14 | Yui Hasegawa |
| LM | 6 | Hina Sugita |
| CF | 15 | Aoba Fujino | 59' |
| CF | 11 | Mina Tanaka | 59' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 7 | Hinata Miyazawa | 59' |
| FW | 9 | Riko Ueki | 59' |
| MF | 10 | Fūka Nagano | 74' |
| DF | 17 | Kiko Seike | 74' |
| DF | 19 | Miyabi Moriya | 90+1' |
| Manager: ||
| Futoshi Ikeda ||
| GK | 23 | Daniela Solera |
| CB | 20 | Fabiola Villalobos |
| CB | 4 | Mariana Benavides |
| CB | 2 | Gabriela Guillén | | 46' |
| RM | 3 | María Coto |
| CM | 16 | Katherine Alvarado (c) |
| CM | 15 | Cristín Granados | | 64' |
| LM | 12 | María Paula Elizondo |
| RF | 7 | Melissa Herrera |
| CF | 9 | María Paula Salas | | 76' |
| LF | 14 | Priscila Chinchilla | 86' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 10 | Gloriana Villalobos | | 46' |
| MF | 11 | Raquel Rodríguez | | 64' |
| MF | 21 | Sheika Scott | | 76' |
| 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

| Spain | Zambia |
| GK | 1 | Misa Rodríguez |
| RB | 2 | Ona Batlle | 46' |
| CB | 4 | Irene Paredes |
| CB | 5 | Ivana Andrés (c) |
| LB | 19 | Olga Carmona |
| DM | 3 | Teresa Abelleira |
| CM | 6 | Aitana Bonmatí | 61' |
| CM | 11 | Alexia Putellas | 46' |
| RF | 18 | Salma Paralluelo | 46' |
| CF | 10 | Jennifer Hermoso |
| LF | 8 | Mariona Caldentey | 83' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 17 | Alba Redondo | 46' |
| DF | 12 | Oihane Hernández | 46' |
| FW | 15 | Eva Navarro | 46' |
| MF | 7 | Irene Guerrero | 61' |
| FW | 22 | Athenea del Castillo | 83' |
| Manager: ||
| Jorge Vilda ||
| GK | 18 | Eunice Sakala |
| RB | 8 | Margaret Belemu |
| CB | 15 | Agness Musase |
| CB | 3 | Lushomo Mweemba | | 76' |
| LB | 13 | Martha Tembo | 90+10' |
| DM | 4 | Susan Banda | | 37' |
| CM | 14 | Ireen Lungu |
| CM | 12 | Evarine Katongo | | 76' |
| RF | 17 | Racheal Kundananji |
| CF | 11 | Barbra Banda (c) |
| LF | 19 | Siomala Mapepa | | 37' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Mary Wilombe | | 37' |
| MF | 21 | Avell Chitundu | | 37' |
| FW | 7 | Ochumba Lubandji | 90+1' | 76' |
| DF | 23 | Vast Phiri | | 76' |
| 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.
| Japan | Spain |
| GK | 1 | Ayaka Yamashita |
| CB | 12 | Hana Takahashi |
| CB | 4 | Saki Kumagai (c) |
| CB | 3 | Moeka Minami |
| RM | 2 | Risa Shimizu | 59' |
| CM | 10 | Fūka Nagano | 59' |
| CM | 16 | Honoka Hayashi |
| LM | 13 | Jun Endō | 85' |
| RF | 8 | Hikaru Naomoto |
| CF | 9 | Riko Ueki | 67' |
| LF | 7 | Hinata Miyazawa | 46' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Aoba Fujino | 46' |
| DF | 19 | Miyabi Moriya | 59' |
| MF | 14 | Yui Hasegawa | 59' |
| FW | 11 | Mina Tanaka | 67' |
| MF | 6 | Hina Sugita | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Futoshi Ikeda ||
| GK | 1 | Misa Rodríguez |
| RB | 2 | Ona Batlle |
| CB | 4 | Irene Paredes |
| CB | 20 | Rocío Gálvez |
| LB | 19 | Olga Carmona (c) | 45+1' | 46' |
| DM | 3 | Teresa Abelleira | | 72' |
| CM | 6 | Aitana Bonmatí |
| CM | 11 | Alexia Putellas | | 62' |
| RF | 18 | Salma Paralluelo | | 82' |
| CF | 10 | Jennifer Hermoso |
| LF | 8 | Mariona Caldentey | | 62' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 12 | Oihane Hernández | 89' | 46' |
| FW | 15 | Eva Navarro | | 62' |
| FW | 17 | Alba Redondo | | 62' |
| MF | 21 | Claudia Zornoza | | 72' |
| FW | 9 | Esther González | | 82' |
| 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

| Costa Rica | Zambia |
| GK | 23 | Daniela Solera |
| CB | 20 | Fabiola Villalobos |
| CB | 4 | Mariana Benavides | 21' |
| CB | 5 | Valeria del Campo | 23' |
| RM | 3 | María Coto |
| CM | 10 | Gloriana Villalobos | | 72' |
| CM | 16 | Katherine Alvarado (c) | 6' | 90+1' |
| LM | 11 | Raquel Rodríguez |
| RF | 7 | Melissa Herrera |
| CF | 21 | Sheika Scott | | 85' |
| LF | 14 | Priscila Chinchilla |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | María Paula Salas | | 72' |
| MF | 13 | Emilie Valenciano | | 85' |
| MF | 19 | Alexandra Pinell | | 90+1' |
| Manager: ||
| Amelia Valverde ||
| GK | 1 | Catherine Musonda |
| RB | 8 | Margaret Belemu |
| CB | 15 | Agness Musase |
| CB | 3 | Lushomo Mweemba |
| LB | 13 | Martha Tembo | 40' |
| DM | 4 | Susan Banda |
| CM | 20 | Hellen Chanda | | 90+9' |
| CM | 12 | Evarine Katongo | | 74' |
| RF | 21 | Avell Chitundu | | 85' |
| CF | 11 | Barbra Banda (c) | 66' |
| LF | 17 | Racheal Kundananji |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Mary Wilombe | | 74' |
| MF | 19 | Siomala Mapepa | | 85' |
| MF | 9 | Hellen Mubanga | | 90+9' |
| 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.
| Team | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Points |
| Japan | | | | 0 |
| Spain | | | 2 | –2 |
| Costa Rica | | 1 | 3 | –4 |
| Zambia | 1 | 2 | 2 | –7 |