Opposition analysis: All you need to know about Al-Hilal | OneFootball

Info about our next Club World Cup opponents

Our Red Bulls' second opponents at the FIFA Club World Cup are top Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal SFC. Before we face the star-studded side from Riyadh late on Sunday night (midnight Austrian time) in Washington, D. C., we are outlining just what we can expect to face.

#1 | Royal beginnings

The Riyadh club was founded in 1957 as the Olympic Club. A year later they gained their current name from the Saudi king - with Al-Hilal translating as The Crescent. The majority shareholder of the club nowadays is Saudi investment fund PIF.

#2 | Most successful football club in Asia

With four AFC Champions League titles, Al-Hilal are the most successful club in the competition. Their 2-0 win in the 2021 final against the Pohang Steelers from South Korea secured them their ticket in the Club World Cup. They hold the record for the most title wins in Saudi football, 19. Their Al-Zaeem nickname, meaning The Leaders, came as a result of that dominance.

#3 | Stadium has seen title battles beyond football

Al-Hilal have followed their name when it comes to their stadium too - as they play their home matches in the Kingdom Arena. The 26,000-seater modern arena opened in 2023, has a closeable roof and has been the scene of several boxing world title bouts.

#4 | A regular test for Real Madrid

It wasn't just in their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup opener in which the Saudis tested the Spanish giants (with a 1-1 draw). In the previous form of the competition, in 2022, the two sides met in the final. The Madrid outfit won, but didn't have things go all their way in a 5-3 success.

#5 | Rivalry with Ronaldo's Al-Nassr

The biggest clash in Saudi football is Al-Hilal against Al-Nassr in the Riyadh Derby – one of the biggest clashes in Middle Eastern football. As runners-up in 2024/25, they may have been surpassed by Ittihad FC but still had bragging rights by finishing five points ahead of their derby rivals.

#6 | Not just a bunch of old stars

The average age of their starting XI against Real Madrid was 29.3 years old, with Bono the oldest on the pitch at 34. Three Saudi Arabian players started together with international stars like Ruben Neves, Malcolm and Joao Cancelo. They have a hot young asset in their ranks too with 22-year-old Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo.

#7 | Two bases in the USA

The Saudi club have elected to have two bases over the group stage. Inzaghi's charges are training in both the D. C. United Training Centre in Leesburg/Virginia as well as the Nashville SC Training Facility in Tennessee. Their first match against Real Madrid took place in Miami, followed by our clash in Washington, D. C. and then a meeting with CF Pachuca in Nashville.

Match v Al-Hilal on free DAZN stream

Our World Cup game against Al-Hilal along with all other matches in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is being broadcast for free worldwide by streaming service DAZN. You just need an account (which can also be registered with a subscription). With a DAZN subscription you can watch all World Cup games again in full length on demand.

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