Inter Milan will face Urawa Red Diamonds on June 21, 2025, at Lumen Field in Seattle in a crucial Group E clash of the FIFA Club World Cup. This match is significant for both teams as they look to secure their first points in the group stage and improve their chances of advancing to the Round of 16. Inter, coming off an earlier match against Monterrey, will be without striker Mehdi Taremi due to travel restrictions, while Urawa enters the fixture following a goalless draw with River Plate. Though they’ve only met in a 2004 friendly, where Urawa won, this will be their first official competitive encounter. The match is expected to draw global attention and will be broadcast across various international platforms.
Recent Team Form
A breakdown of recent form for both teams ahead of their clash:
Inter Milan
Club World Cup: Drew 1‑1 with Monterrey in their opener—Lautaro Martínez equalized after Sergio Ramos headed Monterrey ahead .
Domestic and continental form: Inter suffered a heavy 0‑5 loss to PSG in the Champions League final two weeks ago, marking a low before arriving in Seattle . They also lost the Italian Supercoppa to AC Milan but have otherwise remained competitively solid in Serie A.
Overall: Their performances have been mixed—moments of quality offset by recent defensive struggles and heavy defeats.
Urawa Red Diamonds
J1 League: In their last five domestic matches they recorded 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, including a 3‑2 win over Tokyo Verdy and 1‑1 draws with Nagoya and Kawasaki .
Season stats: They sit 3rd in the league, averaging roughly 1.6 points per game, with strong home (8‑1‑2) but weaker away form (1‑6‑3) .
Club World Cup: Lost their Group E opener 1‑3 to River Plate in Pasadena .
Team Details
The team details for Inter Milan and Urawa Red Diamonds ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup clash:
Inter Milan
Country: Italy
Manager: Simone Inzaghi
Captain: Lautaro Martínez
League: Serie A (Italy)
Recent Honours:
2023–24 Serie A champions
2024 UEFA Champions League runners-up
2023 Coppa Italia finalists
Key Players:
Lautaro Martínez (Forward) – Prolific scorer and team leader
Nicolò Barella (Midfielder) – Midfield engine and creator
Benjamin Pavard (Defender) – Versatile and experienced at the back
Yann Sommer (Goalkeeper) – Reliable shot-stopper
Club World Cup History:
First appearance in the expanded format
Won the Intercontinental Cup in 1964, 1965, and 2010 (predecessor to Club World Cup)
Urawa Red Diamonds
Country: Japan
Founded: 1950 (as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries FC)
Manager: Per-Mathias Høgmo (appointed 2024)
Captain: Hiroki Sakai
League: J1 League (Japan)
Recent Honours:
2022 AFC Champions League winners
2023 Japanese Super Cup finalists
Key Players:
Alexander Scholz (Defender) – Danish CB, leader at the back
Atsuki Ito (Midfielder) – Young, creative Japanese talent
José Kanté (Forward) – Guinean international and clinical finisher
Shusaku Nishikawa (Goalkeeper) – Veteran with international experience
Predicted Lineup
The predicted starting lineups for both teams ahead of their Group E clash at the FIFA Club World Cup:
Inter Milan (3‑5‑2)
Based on their opener vs Monterrey (June 17), Inter are expected to field essentially the same XI with:
GK: Yann Sommer
CBs: Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni
Midfield: Nicolò Barella, Kristjan Asllani, Henrikh Mkhitaryan (central trio), with Matteo Darmian (RWB) and Carlos Augusto (LWB)
Forwards: Captain Lautaro Martínez flanked by Sebastiano Esposito
Urawa Red Diamonds (4‑2‑3‑1)
Per fantasy predictions and confirmed first XI vs River Plate and City, Urawa are likely to line up:
GK: Shūsaku Nishikawa
Back four: Hirokazu Ishihara (RB), Alexander Scholz & Marius Høibråten (CBs), Yōichi Naganuma (LB)
Double pivot: Kaito Yasui and Samuel Gustafson anchoring midfield
Attacking trio: Takurō Kaneko (RW), Matheus Sávio (AM), Ryōma Watanabe (LW)
Striker: Yūsuke Matsuo leading the line
Importance of the Match: Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds
This Group E match in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 carries high stakes for both Inter Milan and Urawa Red Diamonds:
For Inter Milan:
• Qualification Pressure: After drawing their opener vs Monterrey, Inter must win to stay on track for a top-two finish and progress to the Round of 16. A draw or loss would put them at risk of early elimination.
• Redemption Arc: Following a 5–0 Champions League final loss to PSG, Inter are under pressure to restore pride and showcase their dominance on the world stage.
• Squad Rotation Challenge: With star forward Mehdi Taremi absent due to travel restrictions, Inter’s attacking depth and adaptability are being tested.
For Urawa Red Diamonds:
• Survival Match: After losing their first game (1–3 vs River Plate), this match is a must-win for Urawa to have any realistic chance of advancing.
• Underdog Opportunity: Facing European heavyweights like Inter is a rare chance for Urawa to prove the strength of Japanese and Asian club football.
• Club Reputation: A strong showing against one of Europe’s elite could raise the club’s international profile and boost morale in the domestic league.
Conclusion: Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds
Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds is a high-stakes Group E encounter that could define both teams’ Club World Cup campaigns. For Inter, this match is about bouncing back from recent setbacks and asserting their status as European giants. A win would put them in control of their group and restore confidence after a shaky start. For Urawa, it’s a do-or-die fixture — anything less than victory would all but eliminate them from contention. With contrasting styles and immense pressure on both sides, this match promises intensity, tactical intrigue, and crucial implications for progression to the knockout rounds.
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