Urawa Red Diamonds return to the FIFA Club World Cup with a proud continental record and unfinished business on the global stage. Drawn alongside River Plate, Inter Milan and Monterrey, Japan’s most successful Asian champions will need something special to defy the odds this time around.
1) Who will Urawa Red Diamonds face at the Club World Cup?
Urawa Red Diamonds have been drawn into Group E and these are their group stage fixtures:
17 June: vs River Plate. Lumen Field, Seattle.
21 June: vs Internazionale Milano. Lumen Field, Seattle.
25 June: vs Monterrey. Rose Bowl, Los Angeles.
2) Relative lack of Japanese success
Somewhat surprisingly, Urawa Red Diamonds have just five Japanese top division titles to their name, leaving them fifth on the all-time list. Four of these came during the amateur Japan Soccer League era, between 1969 and 1982, with their solitary J1 League triumph coming in 2006.
They are though eight-times Emperor's Cup winners, most-recently doing so in 2021, the most of any active club.
3) Triumphs in Asia
Despite having not been champions of Japan for close to two decades, the Red Devils have been crowned kings of Asia on three occasions during this period.
Urawa Red Diamonds won their very first AFC Champions League title in 2007, beating Sepahan in the final, before repeating the feat a decade later, this time defeating Al-Hilal 2-1 on aggregate.
Those two clubs would meet again in the 2022/23 final and, just had been the case six years earlier, they drew 1-1 in Riyadh before a 1-0 victory in Saitama secured glory for Urawa Reds.
4) A year of rebuilding
In last season's J1 League, Urawa Reds finished down in 13th, only ending up lower than that once since narrowly avoiding relegation in 2011. Thus, this season is about rebuilding and they're on course to achieve that.
Last time out, on 1 June, the Red Devils fought back from a goal down to beat Yokohama FC 2-1 at Saitama Stadium, courtesy of Samuel Gustafson's quick-fire double. This victory propelled them up to third, six points adrift leaders Kashima Antlers, having played 21 of their 38 matches, mainly battling to get back into the AFC Champions League.
5) Past Club World Cup expirence
This summer will be Urawa Red Diamonds' fourth appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup.
They reached the semi-finals both on debut in 2007 and again in 2023, but were defeated by A.C. Milan and Manchester City respectively. In-between, they fell at the first hurdle in 2017, ousted by Al Ain, although Urawa Reds have won four of their eight matches at this competition to date, a respectable ratio, hoping to improve that this summer.
6) Historic name change
When the club were founded in 1950, they were known as Mitsubishi Motors FC, still owned by the world-famous car manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to this day. For their first eight seasons, they were based in Kōbe, before relocating to Tokyo in 1958.
Since the early-90s, they've called Saitama home, their name since 1996, Urawa Red Diamonds, paying homage to Mitsubishi's logo, comprised of three red diamonds.
7) Urawa Red Diamonds players to watch: Ryōma Watanabe
If they are going to upset the odds this summer, Ryōma Watanabe will be their main man for goals.
So far in 2025, the attacking midfielder has scored six goals in 16 J League appearances, most-recently on target during a 2-1 defeat at Nagoya Grampus in May, so can he continue this excellent scoring spree?
8) Urawa Red Diamonds players to watch: Marius Høibråten
This is a largely domestic-based squad, featuring only five overseas players, one of whom is key centre-back Marius Høibråten. Since arriving from Bodø/Glimt in January 2023, the defender has racked up 113 appearances for Urawa Reds, starting all three matches at the Club World Cup two years ago, and will be vital at the heart of their defence.
9) Manager Maciej Skorża: can he deliver more silverware?
Manager Maciej Skorża is something of a journeyman, having held jobs in his native Poland as well as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and now Japan. This is actually his second stint in charge of Urawa Red Diamonds, the first coming through 2023, leading them to AFC Champions League glory.
Nevertheless, he decided to step-down following the Club World Cup in December of that year, albeit was back nine months later, after his successor Per-Mathias Høgmo endured a nightmare, even if very brief, 28-game tenure. With Skorża back at the helm, the Red Devils supporters are hopeful that their team can rediscover the glory years.
10) Will Urawa Red Diamonds claim a win?
Urawa Red Diamonds kick off their Club World Cup escapade against River Plate before also facing Internazionale Milano in Seattle, concluding the group phase against Monterrey at the Rose Bowl.
Even if Inter are favourites to take top spot, second place in Group E is surely up for grabs, albeit Urawa Reds' are probably considered the most-likely candidates to end up rock bottom.