Urawa Reds ready to take on the Club World Cup's bigger stage
FIFA's newly expanded Club World Cup kicked off in the U.S. on Saturday, and while there has been plenty of grumbling from Europe about the extra workload caused by the revamped 32-team tournament, the competition offers a wide range of benefits and new opportunities for clubs from other parts of the world.
Japan's sole representative, Urawa Reds, kicks off its campaign against Argentinian giant River Plate on Tuesday in Seattle, its fourth appearance at the global showpiece after featuring in previous iterations in 2007, 2017 and 2023.
Those versions of the tournament comprised only seven teams in a staggered format, however, and Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa has no doubt that this year's edition will offer a much bigger stage.
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SEATTLE (Kyodo) -- Japan's Urawa Reds will be ready to soak up defensive pressure against Argentine heavyweights River Plate in their first match of the Club World Cup, veteran goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa said Sunday. The two teams are set to meet in the opening Group E encounter at Seattle's Lumen Field on Tuesday. "We're bracing to be kept on the back foot, but if we hold firm in defense, we'll definitely have a chance," Nishikawa said during an online interview. Urawa qualified for the revamped Club World Cup by winning the 2022-23 Asian Champions League, having reached the continental club competition via their 2021 Emperor's Cup triumph. "The story started four years ago. We got here thanks to various events falling into place," said Nishikawa, who turns 39 on Wednesday. Urawa face a tall task advancing from a group also featuring Italian giants Inter Milan and Mexico's Monterrey, but Nishikawa says they will head into the group opener with high aspirations. "I want to enjoy it to the fullest, with a sense of pride and responsibility," he said.
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KYODO NEWS - 22 minutes ago - 17:54 | Sports, All Japan's Urawa Reds will be ready to soak up defensive pressure against Argentine heavyweights River Plate in their first match of the Club World Cup, veteran goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa said Sunday. The two teams are set to meet in the opening Group E encounter at Seattle's Lumen Field on Tuesday. "We're bracing to be kept on the back foot, but if we hold firm in defense, we'll definitely have a chance," Nishikawa said during an online interview. Urawa qualified for the revamped Club World Cup by winning the 2022-23 Asian Champions League, having reached the continental club competition via their 2021 Emperor's Cup triumph. "The story started four years ago. We got here thanks to various events falling into place," said Nishikawa, who turns 39 on Wednesday. Urawa face a tall task advancing from a group also featuring Italian giants Inter Milan and Mexico's Monterrey, but Nishikawa says they will head into the group opener with high aspirations. "I want to enjoy it to the fullest, with a sense of pride and responsibility," he said. Related coverage: Football: Urawa to represent J-League at revamped Club World Cup Football: Miura rewrites oldest-appearance record in 40th pro season Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
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