Costa Rica and Japan most recently met in competitive play during the group stages of the , where Costa Rica secured a surprising 1-0 victory. While Japan has historically dominated their friendly encounters, this World Cup win marked a significant upset for the Central American side. Recent Match Highlights

: Scored by Keysher Fuller in the 81st minute, assisted by Yeltsin Tejeda.

: Japan controlled 57% of possession and registered 14 shots compared to Costa Rica's 4, but struggled to break through a resilient "low block" defensive formation.