Football fan loses $180,000 after betting on Japan to beat Costa Rica

One football fan has lost a hefty sum of money at the World Cup.

The unlucky TAB punter drained a whopping $181,482 after placing a bet on Japan to beat Costa Rica in Qatar.

And, as we now know, the Japanese were beaten 1-0.

With Japan being outright favourites at $1.50, the punter-in-question probably thought they were printing cash by slapping a six-figure bet on them to beat minnows Costa Rica.

Boy, weren't they wrong.

Keysher Fuller's 81st minute goal secured a historic victory for Costa Rica.

It also spelled the end of a horror evening for one TAB punter, who would have been hoping to walk away from the game with over a quarter-of-a-million dollars inter back pocket.

If the football fan was correct and Japan won the match, they would have cashed a cheque of $272,223 – not bad for a day's work.

But it simply wasn't to be for the punter, sadly.

💰 BIG BET 💰

We’ve taken a bet of $181,482 @ $1.50 on Japan to beat Costa Rica! 🤯 #Qatar2022

— TAB (@tabcomau) November 27, 2022

Even when TAB announced that the bet had been placed, other punters weren't so sure it was the right move.

Replying to TAB's tweet, one person simply said: "Idiot."

While another added: "Never take the shorts under $1.50."

As a third commented: "Unlucky I took $7.50 for Costa Rica."

As it stands, Japan are still in second-place in Group E.

After their upset victory, Costa Rica are in third place while four-time World Cup winners Germany are rock bottom.