On Sunday, July 5th, an open practice session for the top team and a press conference announcing the new team structure for the 2026/27 season were held at Saitama Stadium under the title "REDS START DAY 2026/27".

At the open practice session held from 9:30 a.m., approximately 2,000 fans and supporters filled the lower seats of the main stand. The players and staff emerged from the same entrance as during Trial (commonly known as the "Troussier Stairs") and lined up on the pitch. Jumpei Hayakawa representing the team, greeted the crowd, saying, "This season, under manager Cho Kwi-jae, we will do our best to achieve better results. We ask that you all fight alongside us." After that, the players spread out onto the pitch and began their warm-up.





After the warm-up, the team split into two for a possession game, with two free men and 11 field players in a game-like format. Early in the session, new signing Harumi Minamino chased down a pass and scored with a sliding tackle, drawing loud applause from the stands. After that, applause echoed every time a goal was scored, and the team received more cheers from fans and supporters than at the open practice at Ohara Training Ground.



After practice, the team took a group photo with the fans and supporters in the main stand in the background. Then, each player threw (kicked) a signed ball into the stands, a surprise gift for the fans and supporters who had come to Saitama Stadium that day.





In the past, fans and supporters would sit in the main stand of Saitama Stadium at the start of the season, and new players would be introduced on the pitch, but this was the first time the team held an open practice. Although it was a different season, being able to interact with many supporters on the third day of training must have given the players a good boost heading into the new season.

After the session, Yoichi Naganuma spoke to reporters, saying, "It still feels strange to have the season start at this time of year. I don't really have a clear image of how the new season will begin, so I think we'll be feeling our way through it. It's new to have so many people watching us practice right after coaching. I think it's a good experiment, and I think people will be able to feel how fired up everyone is by seeing them like this, so I think it was a good time. It really feels like the season is starting."

From 1 PM, the venue moved to the ballroom, where three press conferences were held, moderated by Natsumi Asai, who is well-known for her in-house announcements. These conferences were also streamed live to fans and supporters on the official YouTube channel.

Prior to the press conference, the new president, Minoru Shimizu, who assumed the position on July 1st, gave a speech.



"We believe that manager Cho Kwi-jae, whom we have asked to take charge this season, is the perfect person for Urawa Reds right now to create a strong and attractive team. Under Manager Cho, we want to make this a team that can consistently aim for titles," he said.

The press conference began with a "U-21 Team Launch Announcement," featuring reinforcement manager Tomoya UGAJIN and head coach Tatsuya Tanaka.



Ugajin, the head of strengthening the team, said in his address, "We want to take on this new challenge in this new environment and strengthen the team so that we can produce as many players as possible who can play in the top team." Coach Tanaka added, "I am very honored to have the opportunity to compete with Urawa Reds again. I feel both joy and a great sense of responsibility. I believe that the U-21 J.League is a big challenge for both the club and Japanese football. In this context, I myself will approach this stage as a challenger and build a team that will contribute to the future of Urawa Reds."

Next, the uniform partner for the U-21 team was introduced, and it was announced by Strengthening Manager Ugajin that the team's training camp would be held in Kin Town, Okinawa Prefecture from July 19th (a different venue from the top team's training camp). After a Q&A session with the two, a photo session was held, and the press conference concluded. Afterwards, fans and supporters selected from among the REX CLUB members surrounded the two for a 15-minute talk session. Through questions from the participants, valuable exchanges were revealed, including the keywords Ugajin used when he asked Tanaka to take on the role of manager, and the thoughts that led Tanaka to accept the position. The content of the talk session will be streamed on the official YouTube channel in the near future.

At 2 PM, a press conference was held to announce the new structure of the top team. First, Sports Director Satoshi Horinouchi and new head coach Kwi-jae Cho took the stage. The first thing that happened was the unveiling of the top team's uniforms, followed by a video that has been released on the official YouTube channel, in which Ryoma Watanabe, Ado Onaiwu, and Yuta Miyamoto share their thoughts and determination for the Reds. Then, the design was explained and the uniform partners were introduced.



Sporting Director Horinouchi said, "The biggest reason we selected Coach Cho is that we strongly felt that his passion and energy are what the Reds need right now. And in terms of football, we highly valued his speed and drive in the vertical, especially his speed after winning the ball, his high intensity, and his aggressive attitude to fight for 90 minutes both offensively and defensively." In response, Coach Cho expressed his determination, saying, "Of course I will do my best, but I also want to create a team that fans and supporters will want to cheer for and that is worthy of fighting together with."

Afterward, a question-and-answer session was held, during which both speakers answered each question carefully.

As the final program of the press conference, a press conference was held to announce the arrival of six new players and two players returning from loan spells.



Horinouchi, the Sporting Director, stated the main policy for this season's team composition, saying, "What we look for in players is someone who can grow themselves and help their teammates grow as well. We believe that such a group is necessary, and that's why we've proceeded with this team formation." Following this, Technical Director Nozomi Ikenishi carefully introduced the characteristics of each of the eight players.

Ikenishi TD's explanation gave a good glimpse into the personalities of each player, and in response to a reporter's question during the Q&A session, "What moved you most during the interview when you decided to join the Reds?", Mizunuma Kota said, "They really understood my personality and playing style, (omitted) and when they introduced me here earlier, I was so moved that I almost cried. They spoke to me with such passion." It was a press conference that effectively conveyed the unique characteristics and feelings of each of the new players joining the Reds this season.



After the photo session, the press conference for the new players concluded with a commemorative photo taken with fans and supporters selected from among the REX CLUB members.

"REDS START DAY 2026/27," which began at 9:30 a.m., finally concluded around 4 p.m. This was a first-time event, and it turned out to be a very eventful day.

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]