Under the banner of the initiative, the Saitama-based club organised two football clinics titled “Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Urawa Reds Ladies Smile Football” that were dedicated exclusively to fostering the growth of women’s football in the prefecture.

The first clinic was held in October 2024 at Saitama Stadium and welcomed 79 primary school students, who had the opportunity to engage with players from Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies – the 2023 AFC Women’s Club Championship™ winners.

Divided into groups based on their age, the children participated in tailored training sessions and activities alongside the players, leaving a lasting impression and reinforcing football’s ability to create a positive social impact.

The second clinic took place the following month at Komaba Stadium, immediately after a WE League fixture between Urawa Reds and Omiya Ardija Ventus, and was attended by close to 100 children, further reflecting the growing interest in women’s football across the region.

Complementing the clinics, the club also spearheaded a large-scale football distribution campaign to promote the sport at the grassroots level, which saw more than 2,200 footballs delivered to 54 elementary schools in Saitama City and 36 football schools in the Urawa and Midori areas between September 2024 to March 2025.

The initiative reached nearly 40,000 children, encouraging physical activity and social inclusion while instilling a lifelong love for the game.

True to the AFC Dream Asia Foundation’s philosophy of “Football Cares”, Urawa Red Diamonds’ efforts were yet another instance of the transformative power of football in shaping young lives and strengthening communities.