Al Hilal wants to prove at the Club World Cup that Saudi Arabian football is on par with the best.

Its economic muscle has allowed Saudi Arabia to position itself in the world of sports. To Formula 1 GPs, tennis tournaments, and blockbuster boxing matches, among other events, it has added soccer. And not just by beating Argentina in its debut at Qatar 2022. Its clubs, thanks to state support, signed world-class stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar , and attracted many others, leading to the 2034 World Cup, which it will host.

Al Hilal has been popular and successful since its founding in 1957 in Riyadh . It has won the Saudi Arabian League 19 times (last in 2024), the King's Cup 11 times (last in 2024), and its first continental title came in 1991 with the Asian Club Cup, setting out on a path that cemented it as one of the best in the AFC.

This season, under Jorge Jesús, they finished second in the Saudi Arabian League behind Al-Ittihad and were eliminated in the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals by Al Ahli. Those results turned the corner for the Portuguese player, who left the club.

One of the season's standout performers was Sergej Milinkovic-Savic . The Serbian midfielder, born in February 1995 in Lleida, Spain, was a key player thanks to his international experience and European titles. His talent and leadership allowed him to maintain his position in the top positions in his country and on the continent.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo coming? Rumors about the Portuguese star's signing continue following his departure from Al Nassr, Al Hilal's biggest rival. He has a squad packed with stars: Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, Portuguese midfielder Rubén Neves, and his compatriot Joao Cancelo, former Manchester City full-back.

Al Hilal's manager is "Little Maradona." Yes, that's the nickname given to the man who replaced Jorge Jesús just a couple of weeks ago. Al-Shalhoub is one of the club's biggest idols, the only one he played for during his 22 years as a professional footballer. He managed the last five Saudi Pro League matches, with one draw and four wins, meaning they go into the World Cup unbeaten.

They landed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 AFC Champions League. This achievement gave them one of the four places for the Asians in the tournament, where they occupy Group H with a more than challenging debut against Real Madrid on June 18 in Miami, followed by matches against RB Salzburg of Austria on June 22 and Pachuca of Mexico on June 26.