The game is the first match of Group E in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which is a new tournament with 32 teams from six different confederations.
Match Prediction
River Plate, which represents South American football, got in as the best-ranked team in the CONMEBOL four-year ranking because they made it to the round of 16 in the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
Urawa Reds secured their place by winning the 2022 AFC Champions League, where they beat Al Hilal 2-1 on aggregate in the final.
This is their first time playing against each other, which makes it even more exciting. Group E also has Inter Milan and Monterrey, so starting strong is really important.
17.06.2025 21:00
FIFA Club World Cup – Round 1
River Plate vs Urawa Reds
River Plate: The Argentine team is doing okay right now. Their latest game ended in a 1-1 tie with Universitario in the Copa Libertadores group stage, which stopped a streak of mixed results. They have only won one out of their last four games in all competitions, with their last win coming from a penalty shootout. In their 2025 season, they have achieved 15 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses in 19 matches across all competitions. This shows they are strong in important games, but they have been a bit inconsistent lately.
Their recent performance includes a draw against Universitario, which shows they can compete well but need to do better at scoring.
Urawa Reds: This Japanese team has had a season with ups and downs in the J1 League, currently sitting in third place with 34 points from 21 matches, which is six points behind the top team, Kashima. Their latest game was a 2-1 victory at home against Yokohama, marking a return to winning after three games without a win. They have struggled with consistency, as they haven’t been able to achieve the same result more than once in a row, making it hard to describe their team.
Their achievement in the 2022 AFC Champions League earned them a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, and they have a solid history in Asian tournaments, boasting three AFC Champions League titles, the highest for any Japanese club.
Based on the analysis, River Plate’s strong offense, led by Mastantuono and backed by World Cup champions, seems to give them an advantage over Urawa Reds. However, Urawa’s toughness and Sávio’s skill might help them score, especially since River Plate just had a draw.
Our prediction:
1 (River Plate to Win)
Odds:1.60
Published: 17.06.2025 08:15
Kindly be advised that all odds are accurate as of the publication date and time indicated, and they may be subject to alterations.
All kick-off times and updates are provided in Central European Summer Time +2 (GMT+2).
How the Teams Might Line Up:
River Plate (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Armani
Defense: Acuña, Díaz, Martínez, Montiel
Midfield: Meza, Pérez, Castaño
Attack: Colidio, Driussi, Mastantuono
Urawa Red Diamonds (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Nishikawa
Defense: Boza, Gustafson, Ogiwara, Ishihara
Midfield: Kaneko, Høibråten
Attack: Sávio, Matsuo, Yasui
Striker: Watanabe
Players Who Won’t Play:
River Plate’s only concern is Agustin Ruberto, who is out.
Urawa Red Diamonds have no injury worries and arrive healthy for this match.