Match Preview: Japan vs Chile
Japan faces Chile in Group C on June 14, 2026. The match will be played at Levi's Stadium in San Francisco. Japan (FIFA #15) enters as favorites against Chile (FIFA #23). Both teams are managed by experienced coaches - Hajime Moriyasu for Japan and Ricardo Gareca for Chile. This Group C encounter could be crucial for qualification to the knockout rounds.
15
FIFA Ranking
23
AFC
Confederation
CONMEBOL
Hajime Moriyasu
Coach
Ricardo Gareca
3-4-2-1
Formation
4-3-3
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
Japan
W
W
D
W
W
Chile
W
D
L
W
D
Head-to-Head Record
7
Total Matches
1
Japan Wins
2
Draws
4
Chile Wins
This will be the first World Cup meeting. Chile dominated their last encounter 4-0 in Copa América 2019.
Last Meeting: Chile 4-0 Japan (June 17, 2019)
Copa América
Copa América
Match Prediction & Analysis
Prediction: Japan Slight Edge
Japan 2-1 Chile
Japan (#15 FIFA) and Chile (#23) clash in Group C alongside giants Argentina and Brazil. This is effectively a must-win for both to have realistic qualification hopes. Japan brings organization, speed on the counter, and growing confidence from recent World Cup performances. Chile has experience but an aging squad. Japan's superior FIFA ranking and recent form gives them edge. Both teams will attack knowing they need points before facing Argentina and Brazil.
Key Factors
- Both teams need win to stay competitive in Group C
- Japan's speed and organization
- Chile's experience but aging squad
- Key match for third-place qualification hopes
Predicted Starting Lineups
Japan (3-4-2-1)
Goalkeeper
Shuichi Gonda
Defenders
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Ko Itakura
Yuta Nakayama
Midfielders
Yukinari Sugawara
Wataru Endo
Hidemasa Morita
Kaoru Mitoma
Forwards
Takumi Minamino
Ritsu Doan
Ayase Ueda
Chile (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Claudio Bravo
Defenders
Mauricio Isla
Guillermo Maripán
Paulo Díaz
Gabriel Suazo
Midfielders
Erick Pulgar
Arturo Vidal
Charles Aránguiz
Forwards
Alexis Sánchez
Ben Brereton
Eduardo Vargas
Venue Information
Levi's Stadium
Location: San Francisco, USA
Capacity: 68,500
Surface: Natural grass
Expected Weather
☀️ Sunny
🌡️ 23°C (73°F)
💧 55%
💨 18 km/h
How to Watch Japan vs Chile
United States
FS1
Telemundo
Canada
TSN
Japan
NHK
Fuji TV
International
FIFA+
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Japan vs Chile?
Japan vs Chile kicks off on June 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT (3:00 PM ET) at Levi's Stadium in San Francisco, California.
Where can I watch Japan vs Chile?
The match will be broadcast on FS1 and Telemundo in the USA, NHK in Japan, Canal 13 in Chile. Streaming on FIFA+.
Why is this match so important?
With Argentina and Brazil also in Group C, this is effectively a must-win for both Japan and Chile to have realistic qualification hopes.
Who is favored?
Japan is slight favorite with higher FIFA ranking (#15 vs #23) and better recent form, but it should be a close match.
Have they played at a World Cup before?
No, this will be the first World Cup meeting between Japan and Chile, though they've met 7 times in friendlies and Copa América.