Urawa Red Diamonds are preparing to make their mark at the first-ever 32-team edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to unfold in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
The Japanese club qualified for the prestigious event after lifting the 2022 AFC Champions League title. With FIFA revamping the Club World Cup format, the tournament will now mirror the structure of the traditional World Cup - kicking off with a group stage followed by knockout rounds.

Drawn into Group E, Urawa will square off against some of the most formidable clubs from different regions - including European giants Inter Milan, South American powerhouse River Plate, and CONCACAF representatives Monterrey. The group is expected to deliver fierce competition, featuring footballing styles from across the globe.
This will be Urawa Red Diamonds' fourth appearance on the world stage, reaffirming their stature as one of Asia's elite clubs. The team enter the tournament with a squad that blends experienced campaigners with emerging talent. Their solid domestic performances and continental pedigree make them a team to watch in this year's edition.
Based in Saitama, the Reds are renowned for their passionate fan base and disciplined approach to the game. They'll be aiming to go beyond just making up the numbers - setting sights on a strong run deep into the tournament. Representing Asia, Urawa will carry the hopes of a region eager to see one of its top sides challenge the world's best.
With the opening matchdays approaching, anticipation is building around how Urawa will fare in one of the most ambitious formats FIFA has launched for club football.
The Urawa Red Diamonds are set for a demanding group-stage campaign at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025, with a trio of elite clubs from Europe, South America, and North America standing in their path.
Inter Milan (Italy): A traditional giant in both Italian and European football, Inter Milan enter the tournament with high expectations. Having earned their spot by ranking fourth among UEFA clubs over a four-year period, the Nerazzurri also come in fresh off a strong UEFA Champions League campaign where they finished runners-up. This marks Inter's second outing in the Club World Cup, and with a squad packed with depth, experience, and technical prowess, they'll be aiming to go all the way this time.
River Plate (Argentina): Representing South America, River Plate are one of the most storied clubs in Argentina with a legacy of success on the continental stage. They qualified for the tournament as CONMEBOL's highest-ranked eligible team across the last four years. This will be their third appearance at the Club World Cup, and with a well-balanced squad filled with local talent and seasoned campaigners, River are widely considered among the title contenders.
Monterrey (Mexico): The Mexican outfit Monterrey adds another layer of challenge to Group E. Securing their place as the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners, the club brings valuable experience to the global tournament, having competed in five previous editions. Known for their disciplined approach and dynamic attacking play, Monterrey are no strangers to high-stakes football and will be looking to make a strong impression in this expanded format.
Their debut came in 2007, when they made an immediate impact by finishing third. After defeating Sepahan in the quarterfinals, Urawa put up a spirited performance against AC Milan in the semifinals but ultimately fell short. However, they bounced back in the third-place playoff, edging out Étoile du Sahel to secure a podium finish - still their best result at the competition to date.
The club's second participation came a decade later in 2017, following their AFC Champions League triumph. That time, they exited in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought match against Al Jazira, settling for a fifth-place finish after a classification win over Wydad Casablanca.
Their most recent outing was in 2023, again earned by winning Asia's top club competition. Despite a strong squad and expectations, Urawa couldn't replicate the highs of 2007 and finished fourth.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (PDT) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2025 | River Plate (Argentina) vs Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) | Lumen Field, Seattle | 12:00 PM PDT | 12:30 AM IST (June 18) |
| June 21, 2025 | Inter Milan (Italy) vs Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) | Lumen Field, Seattle | 12:00 PM PDT | 12:30 AM IST (June 22) |
| June 25, 2025 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) vs Monterrey (Mexico) | Rose Bowl, Pasadena | 6:00 PM PDT | 6:30 AM IST (June 26) |
Ryusei Sato, Shusaku Nishikawa, Ayumi Niekawa, Shun Yoshida, Alex Malcolm, Danilo Boza, Hirokazu Ishikara, Marius Hoibraten, Takuya Ogiwara, Kenta Nemoto, Rikito Inoue, Yoshitaka Tanaka, Renji Hidano, Taishi Matsumoto, Matheus Sávio, Genki Haraguchi, Shoya Nakajima, Samuel Gustafsson, Ryoma Watanabe, Takahiro Sekine, Tomoaki Okubo, Kai Shibato, Yusuke Matsuo, Kaito Yasui, Jumpei Hayakawa, Takeshi Wada, Takuro Kaneko, Yoichi Naganuma, Hiroki Abe, Thiago Santana, Hiiro Komori, Toshiki Takahashi, Toshikazu Teruuchi, Rio Nitta.