Al Hilal made history in 2022 as the first Saudi Arabian club to reach the Club World Cup final and they will be aiming to deliver a strong performance in this year’s tournament. With several high-profile players in their ranks, fans can expect an exciting spectacle on American soil.
Al Hilal at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Essential Facts
The 2025 Club World Cup promises to be the largest edition yet, taking place in the USA from Saturday, June 14 through Sunday, July 13. This 32-team tournament will see clubs from across the globe compete in a group stage format followed by knockout rounds.
Al Hilal enters this year’s tournament as the champions of the Saudi Pro League, marking their fourth appearance at the Club World Cup and highlighting their status as one of the most formidable teams in the Asian Football Confederation. The Saudi club is keen to put on a memorable show in the USA, and we have gathered all the vital details regarding their participation in the tournament.
Fixtures, Schedule and Opponents
The revamped Club World Cup format features 32 teams split into eight groups. Teams were seeded ahead of the draw, which took place in December 2024. Al Hilal has been assigned to Group H, where they will face Real Madrid from Spain, CF Pachuca from Mexico, and FC Salzburg from Austria.
Al Hilal will play each opponent once in the group stage, commencing with a clash against the 15-time European champions, Real Madrid, in Miami on June 18. They will then take on FC Salzburg in Washington on June 22, before concluding the group phase against CF Pachuca in Nashville on June 26.
Group Stage Match Fixtures
Real Madrid C.F. vs Al Hilal
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Kick-off: 3pm EDT | 8pm GMT
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (FL)
FC Salzburg vs Al Hilal
Date: Sunday, June 22
Kick-off: 6pm EDT | 11pm GMT
Stadium: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Al Hilal vs CF Pachuca
Date: Thursday, June 26
Kick-off: 8pm CDT | 2am GMT (Friday, June 27)
Stadium: GEODIS Park, Nashville (TN)
Knockout Stage Match Fixtures
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout rounds. Beginning with the round of 16, teams will face off in single-elimination ties against opponents from different groups. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will also be contested as one-off matches.
If Al Hilal advances to the knockout stage, they will compete against one of the teams from Group G, which includes English giants Manchester City, Moroccan club Wydad AC, the 2023/24 AFC Champions League winners Al Ain FC from the UAE, or Italian club Juventus.
Al Hilal’s Potential Round of 16 Matches
R16 Match 6: Group G winners vs Group H runners-up
Date: Monday, June 30
Kick-off: 9pm EDT | 2am GMT (Tuesday, July 1)
Stadium: Camping World Stadium, Orlando (FL)
R16 Match 7: Group H winners vs Group G runners-up
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Kick-off: 3pm EDT | 8pm GMT
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (FL)
Al Hilal’s 2025 Club World Cup Opponents
Real Madrid
As one of the most iconic clubs globally and the most successful team in Europe, Real Madrid will compete in Group H. Los Blancos secured their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by triumphing in the 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League, marking their record-extending 14th title.
Pachuca
Pachuca is one of four clubs from Concacaf participating in the 2025 Club World Cup, qualifying as the winners of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. This victory marked their sixth continental title, making them the second most successful team in the history of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Salzburg
FC Salzburg enters their inaugural Club World Cup through the UEFA ranking pathway, thanks to their performances in the Champions League over the past four seasons. They have dominated Austrian football in recent years, clinching 14 league titles in the last 17 seasons, including an impressive streak of 10 consecutive titles from 2014 to 2023.
Television Coverage: How to Watch Al Hilal at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
All 63 matches of the Club World Cup will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. Remarkably, DAZN has announced that every 2025 Club World Cup match will be available free of charge, allowing Al Hilal’s supporters to follow their team without incurring additional costs.
As DAZN possesses the complete broadcasting rights, the platform has the flexibility to sub-license matches to free-to-air TV channels. In addition, fans can conveniently watch all of Al Hilal’s games online or by downloading the DAZN App on their smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, or gaming consoles.
Expected Line-Up: Al Hilal’s Squad for CWC 2025
The Club World Cup takes place shortly after the conclusion of the Saudi Pro League, which finishes in May. This timing provides Al Hilal with a couple of weeks to prepare before heading to the tournament in the USA, allowing players to rejuvenate and come in strong.
FIFA has introduced an interim transfer window from June 1-10 for clubs participating in this year’s Club World Cup. This will enable Al Hilal to strengthen their squad ahead of the tournament. FIFA has also allowed clubs to extend contracts for players whose deals are set to expire.
Having invested in prominent players over the past few years, Al Hilal will be eager for their stars to deliver exceptional performances at the tournament.
Al Hilal’s Potential Club World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Mohammed Al-Yami, Mohammed Al-Owais
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Khalifah Al-Dawsari, Renan Lodi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Moteb Al-Harbi, Joao Cancelo, Hamad Al-Yami
Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohamed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari
Forwards: Salem Al-Dawsari, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Malcom, Kaio Cesar, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Marcos Leonardo, Abdullah Al-Hamdan
Players to Watch
Joao Cancelo
The adaptable defender revolutionised many teams’ playstyles when Pep Guardiola deployed him as an inverted wingback. Now playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal, the Portuguese international continues to showcase his elite skills, posing a constant threat in both defensive and attacking roles.
Yassine Bounou
Commonly known as Bono, the Moroccan goalkeeper shone for his national team, helping them reach the semifinals of the latest FIFA World Cup. He also played a pivotal role in securing the Saudi Pro League title for Al Hilal last season and was awarded the club’s Best Goalkeeper for the 2023/24 season.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
The imposing Serbian striker was a standout performer in the Saudi Pro League last season, netting 28 goals in as many matches for Al Hilal. Overall, he concluded his first season in the Middle East with 40 goals from 43 games, guiding Al Hilal to a treble. Despite injury setbacks this season, Al Hilal is hopeful that he can reclaim his previous form just in time for the Club World Cup.
Betting Odds: Al Hilal’s Chances of Winning
The Blue Wave are considered underdogs to win the 2025 Club World Cup, with odds of 28/1 on Paddy Power. They are the top-rated team from the Asian Football Confederation according to the odds and have a realistic chance of advancing to the knockout stage.
Favourites to win the tournament, according to bookmakers, are Manchester City at 7/2, followed by Al Hilal’s Group H rivals, Real Madrid, at 4/1. Bayern Munich comes next at 7/1, with Chelsea at 17/2.
How Al Hilal Qualified for the 2025 Tournament
Al Hilal earned their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 AFC Champions League, making them one of four teams from the Asian Football Confederation to participate in the tournament.
Al Hilal’s 2025 Club World Cup Kit
While Al Hilal has not yet revealed a special kit for this year’s Club World Cup, leaks suggest an off-white away kit featuring tan stripes and an intricate design. Fans eagerly await the official announcement regarding their away kit and any potential home kit.
Has Al Hilal Ever Won the Club World Cup?
This will mark Al Hilal’s fourth appearance in the Club World Cup, having participated in three of the last five editions. Their finest performance came in 2022 when they reached the final, where they faced the same opponent they will face this year—Real Madrid.
Beginning in the quarterfinals, Al Hilal advanced by defeating Moroccan team Wydad on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In the semifinals, they stunned Flamengo with a 3-2 victory to reach the final and become the first Saudi Arabian team to do so in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, they ultimately fell to Real Madrid in a closely contested match that ended 5-3.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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