RB Ōmiya Ardija's Japanese Adventure Kicks Off in Style
FC Bayern Women's first friendly of the 2026/27 season takes them to an emerging club from Japan's highest professional women's league, with RB Ōmiya Ardija being the first opponents in the Allianz Women's Tour.
The club from Saitama Prefecture, just outside Tokyo, has an exciting history. Founded in 1969 as Denden Kanto Football Club, it merged with the well-established Omiya Ardija men's team in 2021 to join the newly launched Japanese professional league, the WE League. The central idea of this merger was "to contribute towards a better society in which people can share their dreams and passions through sport."
In 2024, the club underwent another significant change when Red Bull took over. The team was renamed RB Ōmiya Ardija Women, with the Red Bull takeover marking a new chapter in the club's history.
The Japanese club finished seventh in the 2023/24 season, registering 27 points with six wins and nine draws. They scored 24 goals and conceded 28. RB Ōmiya Ardija Women will face a familiar face from the Bundesliga when they meet FC Bayern Women on Saturday, as Mai Kadowaki, a former RB Leipzig player, now plays for the Japanese club.
Mai Kadowaki featured 18 times for Leipzig in the German top flight before joining RB Ōmiya Ardija on loan at the start of this year. She will now be staying with the Japanese club beyond her agreed loan deal. The 25-year-old striker's experience will be crucial for RB Ōmiya Ardija as they face FC Bayern Women in their first friendly of the season.
FC Bayern Women's head coach will have to keep a close eye on Yuma Saito, RB Ōmiya Ardija's top scorer last season with seven goals. The 33-year-old's skills will be put to the test as he faces a top European club.
The match will take place at NACK5 Stadium Omiya, which has a capacity of around 15,500. The stadium is designed to bring fans close to the pitch, with the motto "Football First". The compact ground will provide a unique setting for a clash that will test RB Ōmiya Ardija while offering the crowd a window to a top European club.
The friendly match will be the first test for RB Ōmiya Ardija Women as they begin their Japanese adventure. The team's performance will be closely watched, and the match will provide valuable insight into their capabilities. The result of the match will be announced after the game, with the latest confirmed development being that the match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 25 July, at 10:00 CEST.
Source: Yahoo Sports