Al Hilal at FIFA Club World Cup: What is it? How's format? Who do they face?

Al Hilal are the sole Saudi Arabian and Roshn Saudi League representative at the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which kicks off this week.

Unlike any of their previous appearances in the continental competition, they will take their place in a 32-team tournament that aims to crown the top club in the world.

By what exactly is it? What format does it involve? And who stands in Al Hilal’s way in the new group stage? We have you covered.

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What is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

The old tournament featured the champions of the six global football confederations facing off each year, with a guest team from the host nation completing the seven-team line-up.

However, the 2025 edition comprises 32 teams representing each of the six global confederations. It will be held every four years, with the first edition being played in the United States – co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup – from June 14 to July 13.

How did teams qualify?

There was a four-year qualifying period, with clubs securing a spot in one of two ways:

- The champions: those who won their confederation's lead club competition during the qualifying period (e.g. Al Hilal by capturing the 2021 AFC Champions League).

- The ranking: this is based on a club's performance in their confederation's lead club competition across the entire qualifying period. For this tournament, FIFA's ranking system was used for all continents except Europe, which deferred to UEFA's club coefficient system.

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Asia, Africa and North & Central America received four slots, South America six, Europe 12, while Oceania and the host country got one each (Inter Miami will represent the latter).

A maximum of two teams per country is allowed, unless more than two clubs from the same country wins their confederation's continental title.

Which clubs from Asia qualified?

Al Hilal – 2021 AFC Champions League winners

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League winners

Al Ain (UAE) – 2023-24 AFC Champions League winners

Ulsan HD (KOR) – best-ranked eligible club

Where are the matches played?

Twelve venues will stage the 63 matches, with the opening game taking place at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on June 15 and the final being played at MetLife Stadium in New York, New Jersey, on July 13. Five of the stadiums will be used at next year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What’s the format?

- Group stage: eight groups of four teams in a single-game, round-robin format.

- The top two teams in each group progress to the Round of 16.

- There are straight knockout matches from the Round of 16 to the final.

- There is no 3rd-place play-off.

Who will Al Hilal play?

The four-time Asian champions have been drawn in Group H alongside record FIFA Club World Cup winners Real Madrid, 2024 CONCACAF Champions League winners Pachuca of Mexico, and Red Bull Salzburg, who qualified as the ninth best-ranked eligible team in UEFA’s four-year ranking.

Real Madrid are appearing at the tournament for the seventh time – they have lifted the trophy an unprecedented five times – with Pachuca participating in their fifth. The Mexican side have reached the semi-finals twice, in 2008 and 2017. Red Bull Salzburg, meanwhile, are making their debut.

Al Hilal kick off their campaign on June 18, with the mouthwatering clash against Real Madrid at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, then face Red Bull Salzburg four days later at Audi Field in Washington.

The RSL side round off the group on June 26, against Pachuca at Geodis Park in Nashville.

What’s the full group stage?

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica

Group D: Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis, Chelsea, Los Angeles FC

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Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, Juventus

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg

How have Al Hilal fared in the previous iterations?

The Riyadh giants have appeared in the FIFA Club World Cup in its previous guise three times, reaching the semi-finals in 2019 and 2021 before finishing runners-up to Real Madrid in 2022.