FT · World: International Friendly · Monday, 28 September 2026

Japan 2–1 VenezuelaMatch recap & Bawler model verdict · Monday, 28 September 2026

Japan
2–1
Japan win
Venezuela
> 🧠 Model verdict
✓ Model called it

Pre-match, Bawler had Japan at 80%, draw at 14%, Venezuela at 6%. The match ended 2-1 — confirming the model's lean toward Japan.

> Pre-match probability vs result
Japan win
80%
Actual ✓
Draw
14%
Venezuela win
6%
> Expected vs actual goals
Model expected (xG)
2.68 – 0.63
Total 3.31
Actual
2 – 1
Total 3 (-0.3 vs xG)

Total goals landed close to the model's expectation — within 0.3 of forecast. Suggests this match played to the underlying xG balance.

> 🧾 What the model called · and how it landed
High confidence
Home Win
Pre-match: 80%
✓ Won
> What we said pre-match
"Japan's Home Win forecast rests on a dominant 2.04 expected-goals advantage, with creator Takumi Minamino controlling 22% of the hosts' attacking output against Venezuela's 0.63 xG."

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