Japan will open their Paris Olympic women's football campaign against 2023 World Cup champions Spain on July 25, Wednesday's official draw revealed.
Japan and Spain were drawn in Group C, along with Brazil and a team from the African zone. Nadeshiko Japan stunned Spain 4-0 win in the group stage of last year's World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Manager Futoshi Ikeda's team will next play Brazil on July 28 before wrapping up the group stage three days later against the to-be-determined African side, according to the draw held in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.
"Every match will be tough, whoever we face," Ikeda said in a statement through the Japan Football Association. "We look forward to playing World Cup champions Spain."
"We have about four months until the tournament. We want to keep building our team toward the Olympics. Following the draw, I'm feeling a renewed sense of positive tension as I imagine facing those opponents."
At the Olympics, 12 teams are separated into three groups. The top two from each group advance to the quarterfinals, joined by the two best third-place teams.
Japan made a quarterfinal exit at the 2023 World Cup, losing to Sweden.
