Club World Cup Scouting Report: Will Urawa Red Diamonds' success in continental tournaments bode well this summer?

The Urawa Red Diamonds have more continental success than they do domestically - could that be an asset in the CWC?

Urawa Red Diamonds aren't domestic giants when it comes to the J1 League, Japan's top flight. The Saitama City-based club has won just one title since the Japanese First Division became the J1 League in 1992, lifting the league title in 2006, and four previous top-flight wins since its founding in 1950.

Yet, in Asia, they're juggernauts, winning the Asian Champions League three times - in 2007, 2017, and 2022. It's the second-most wins by any club in Asia, tied with the K League's Pohang Steelers and one fewer than Middle Eastern powerhouse Al-Hilal Saudi FC.

In theory, the Red Diamonds' wins in the Asian Champions League should greatly benefit them in the upcomgin Club World Cup. The Asian Champions League might not be as competitive as its European or South American counterparts, but there's an argument that it might be more grueling.

There are fixtures from Iraq to Australia, Japan to India. This year's rebranded Club World Cup spans across the U.S., and Urawa might have a slight advantage over its group stage competitors as a result of its previous success. Still, with Inter Milan, River Plate and Monterrey all in the same group, the Red Diamonds face a tall task.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT. Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field.

Next up is Urawa Red Diamonds, with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the sole J1 League team at the tournament.

The Basics
DOMESTIC LEAGUE: J1 League
CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: 2007, 2017, 2023
GROUP: E (Inter Milan, Monterrey, River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds)
OPENING MATCH: River Plate - June 17, 3 p.m. ET, Seattle

AFP
How they got here
The Red Diamonds' continental triumph earned them a place in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. In the 2022 ACL campaign, Urawa recovered from a second-place group finish to mount an impressive run through the knockout stages.
In the final, they battled Al Hilal to a 1-1 draw in Riyadh, thanks to a Shinzo Koroki goal, before sealing the title with a 1-0 victory at home in front of 53,000 fans.
J.LEAGUE
The player to watch
The J1 League has a history of finding diamonds in the rough from Brazil - think about former Brazil international Hulk's rise to prominence in Japan's top two divisions before having a storied run for Porto and Zenit in Europe.
While Matheus Sávio is not of Hulk's caliber, he's one of the J1 League's elite midfielders. A former Brazil U20 standout who plays as an attacking midfielder, Sávio moved from Flamengo to Kashiwa Reysol for $1.1 million in 2019 and starred with an incredible 32 goals and 22 assists in six seasons with the club.
His performances is what ultimately led him to Urawa this season, where he's helped the club into in fourth in Japan's top flight, tied for the lead in goal contributions with six. If the Red Diamonds are to sneak out of Group E, they'll need Sávio to be a strong playmaker first and find ways to also be a threat in the attack.
Another player to watch is domestic star Ryoma Watanabe. The 28-year-old also has six goal contributions this season and has spent the majority of his career in Japan, outside of his time at the FC Ingolstadt development system. Another player whose impact comes from the midfield, he leads the Red Diamonds in scoring with five goals.

J.LEAGUE
Realistic Expectations
In an easier group, Urawa Red Diamonds could potentially secure a passage out. However, Group E features this year's UEFA Champions League finalist in Inter, an Argentine powerhouse in River and a Monterrey side that disappointed in the playoffs - but has Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, and likely a top recruit at manager.
There's no easy wins here, and the Red Diamonds don't have a prolific scorer on their roster. Realistically, their best shot comes if they can secure at least a draw against River and beat Rayados. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Official tickets

The Basics

How they got here

The player to watch

Realistic Expectations