[Urawa Reds] FIFA Twinning Project Starts - Rehabilitation Support Program Using Soccer Launched

Urawa Reds, in collaboration with The Twinning Project, the FIFA Foundation, the Japan Football Association (JFA), the Correction Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, and Kawagoe Juvenile Prison, will launch a rehabilitation support program utilizing soccer starting in June 2026. This program, targeting inmates at Kawagoe Juvenile Prison, is a first for Japan, implemented through the cooperation of local soccer club Urawa Reds, the Correction Bureau of the Ministry of Justice which oversees prisons nationwide, and the FIFA Foundation which supports the global expansion of this initiative.

The Twinning Project is an award-winning charity that partners with professional soccer clubs, governing bodies, prisons, and criminal justice agencies to leverage the power of soccer in supporting rehabilitation, personal growth, and smooth reintegration into society. Since its inception, it has partnered with major clubs and correctional facilities worldwide, helping participants develop confidence, teamwork, communication skills, resilience, and a stronger sense of purpose. With the support of FIFA and the FIFA Foundation, this model is expanding internationally and is now widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and innovative soccer-based criminal justice intervention programs globally.

This program will be conducted with a group of 19 inmates, and coaching will be provided by Urawa Reds Heartful Club and Academy Soccer School coaches who hold JFA Coaching Licenses B-Class or higher. This activity aligns with Urawa Reds' operational policy of "Contributing to the healthy development of youth as members of society" and "Providing a healthy recreational space for the community," and from an SDGs perspective, it is considered an initiative that contributes to the following goals:

3: Good Health and Well-being

4: Quality Education

8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

10: Reduced Inequalities

16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

17: Partnerships for the Goals

Furthermore, this program will convey the following four keywords, which are important to Urawa Reds Heartful Club, to the participants:

1 A spirit of doing everything with all one's effort

2 A spirit of enjoying things together

3 A spirit of trusting and caring for companions

4 A spirit of thinking

Through soccer, we aim to convey these values to the participants and assist them in their reintegration into society.

[Makoto Taguchi, President and Representative Director]

Since its establishment, Urawa Reds has been dedicated to contributing to the community and society through soccer as a core mission.

We find it deeply meaningful to be able to implement this rehabilitation support program in collaboration with The Twinning Project, the FIFA Foundation, the Japan Football Association, the Correction Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, and Kawagoe Juvenile Prison.

Soccer has the power to connect people, teach the importance of cooperation while respecting each other, and foster the ability to think and act independently. Through our daily activities with the Heartful Club and Academy Schools, we have conveyed not only soccer techniques but also important values for personal growth.

We hope that this program will serve as an opportunity for participants to regain their confidence and take a new step towards reintegration into society.

This initiative embodies the club's philosophy of contributing to solving social issues through the power of sports, and it is the first challenge of its kind in East Asia, realized through collaboration with the local community, government agencies, and international partners.

Urawa Reds will continue to believe in the potential of soccer and strive to create a society where everyone can live with hope.

[Hilton Freund MBE – Global CEO – The Twinning Project]

We are delighted to introduce 'The Twinning Project' to Japan and to launch this groundbreaking program in collaboration with Urawa Reds, the FIFA Foundation, the Japan Football Association, the Correction Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, and Kawagoe Juvenile Prison. This initiative is not only a significant milestone for 'The Twinning Project' but also a crucial step in the further development of soccer as a force for positive social change worldwide.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all our partners and stakeholders who have shown wonderful cooperation and dedication, and who share the belief that 'soccer has the power to change lives.'

At the heart of 'The Twinning Project' is the conviction that through soccer, we can foster the skills, confidence, and mindset necessary to build a brighter future. Through this program, participants will have the opportunity to acquire vital life skills such as teamwork, communication, discipline, resilience, responsibility, and self-esteem. These qualities are invaluable both on and off the pitch, playing a crucial role in helping young people make positive choices, pursue meaningful futures, and reintegrate smoothly into society.

[Mauricio Macri – President, FIFA Foundation]

The FIFA Foundation is proud to support the implementation of The Twinning Project in Japan as part of its ongoing international expansion of this initiative. This program embodies our philosophy of using soccer as a powerful tool for positive social impact, empowering participants to build confidence, develop life skills, and prepare for a smooth reintegration into society.

[Kozo Tashima - Honorary President of JFA, FIFA Council Member]

I am very pleased that we can launch The Twinning Project, a first for Japanese soccer, with the cooperation of the FIFA Foundation, the Correction Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, and Urawa Reds. I sincerely thank everyone involved for their cooperation.

The FIFA Twinning Project, which supports the rehabilitation and social reintegration of inmates through soccer, is a wonderful initiative. In this first-ever activity in Japan, coaches from Urawa Reds, who have long been involved in the promotion of soccer and youth development, will take on this role. We believe this will also broaden the scope of community and social contribution through soccer for J.League clubs.

The power of soccer is immense. I hope that through soccer activities, inmates will find hope and purpose in life, and lead good lives after their release, and I pray that this activity will contribute to building a safe and secure society.

[Director-General, Correction Bureau, Ministry of Justice]

We sincerely thank the FIFA Foundation, JFA, and Urawa Reds for their ongoing interest in correctional administration and for their significant cooperation through this project.

This project is expected to be one of the measures to enhance the treatment of inmates under the new penal servitude system, which began in June last year, and also to contribute to the "promotion of inclusion by the community," a key issue in the Second Crime Prevention Promotion Plan.

Through the treatment in cooperation with all of you, we aim to promote the improvement and rehabilitation of inmates and their smooth reintegration into society, as well as to prevent recidivism.

[Superintendent, Kawagoe Juvenile Prison]

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all related organizations for their daily support and cooperation in the operation of this facility.

As a juvenile prison, we primarily accommodate inmates in their 20s. For The Twinning Project, we have decided to start with particularly young inmates at our facility.

As the four keywords advocated by Urawa Reds Heartful Club are essential elements for the improvement, rehabilitation, and social reintegration of inmates, we intend to make the most of "community strength" and strive for further enhancement of inmate treatment under penal servitude.