Modest Urawa Reds aim to make their mark at Club World Cup

Urawa qualified for the Club World Cup thanks to their 2023 AFC Champions League title – a tournament officially linked to the 2022 calendar – after beating Al Hilal in the final.

That triumph lifted them to second place in the all-time AFC Champions League rankings with three titles, just one behind the Saudi giants. However, that continental success has not been reflected in their recent domestic form.

Under Maciej Skorza, the team remain third in the all-time J-League table, Japan's top flight. But since their peak between 2014 and 2016, they have struggled for consistency and have drifted into mid-table obscurity.

Since 2017, their league finishes have been: 7th, 5th, 14th, 10th, 9th, 4th, 13th and 5th. For that reason, Urawa Reds have already met their objective at the Club World Cup: taking part.

Their recent domestic seasons do not suggest a deep run, although their performances in Asian competitions – and their current third place in Japan – offer some hope. Inter, River and Monterrey seem to be a step ahead, but Urawa have enough quality to at least fight for second place.

Squad list

Players to watch

Their most in-form player is Ryoma Watanabe, a 28-year-old attacking midfielder who often drifts to the left. This is widely considered a footballer's peak age, and Watanabe is delivering.

In 17 matches this season, he has scored six goals and provided one assist. He has already equalled his goal tally from last season (in 40 games), and is one away from matching his career-best of seven with FC Tokyo in 2021/22.

Urawa also rely on other creative options to support their bid for a surprise run. Matsumoto, a defensive midfielder with unexpected attacking output - three goals and one assist, and Matheus Savio, with two goals and four assists, have added depth this season.

Up front, another Brazilian, Thiago Santana, has three goals so far. He was more prominent last year, but this season Matsuo – a winger turned striker – has taken on a bigger role.

Coach

Maciej Skorza had a dream start to life at Urawa, taking charge in February 2023 and winning the AFC Champions League just three months later.

The 53-year-old is enjoying his second spell outside his native Poland, where he coached Wisla Krakow, Legia Warsaw, Lech Poznan and Pogon Szczecin. He also had a brief stint at Al Ettifaq back in 2013, well before Saudi football's current rise.

Skorza, who has four league titles, a Supercup and a Cup to his name in Poland, is a committed follower of the 4-2-3-1 formation. He began with a classic 4-4-2 and briefly tried a 4-3-3 in the Europa League with Wisla – unsuccessfully.

Since his first stint at Lech Poznan in 2016, he has settled on his preferred shape: a double pivot supporting a talented number ten, flanked by two wingers. He often opts for wide players who cut inside rather than hugging the touchline.

Group stage fixtures

Matchday 1

Urawa Reds will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against River Plate on Tuesday, 17 June. It's hard to compare Asian and South American competitions, especially with so few meetings between clubs. River are clear favourites, but Urawa would be delighted to take anything from the match before facing the group's top seed.

Matchday 2

Inter will be their second opponents on Saturday, 21 June. On paper, the gap between the sides is enormous, and although anything can happen in football, Urawa are not expected to take points from the Champions League runners-up.

Matchday 3

Urawa will close their group campaign against Monterrey on Thursday, 26 June. Rayados' inconsistent season narrows the gap between the sides, at least in terms of form. Urawa's hopes of qualifying seem to hinge entirely on beating the Mexicans, led by Canales and Sergio Ramos.

Possible starting XI