Al-Hilal will carry Asia’s hopes into the knockout stages of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after a composed 2–0 win over Mexico’s Pachuca on June 26 at Geodis Park in Nashville. With the victory, the Saudi giants sealed second place in their group and set up a blockbuster round of 16 clash with English champions Manchester City.
Elsewhere, Al-Ain closed out their campaign with a measure of redemption, defeating Tunisia’s Wydad Casablanca 2–1 at Audi Field in Washington D.C.—their first and only win in the tournament after a string of heavy defeats.
The UAE side got off to a rocky start, falling behind in just the 4th minute to a Cassius Mailula strike for Wydad. Already eliminated after two humbling losses to Manchester City and Juventus, Al-Ain looked vulnerable early on, raising fears of another rout.
But they gradually regained composure and were rewarded on the stroke of half-time when striker Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba confidently converted a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time to level the score at 1–1.
Five minutes into the second half, Paraguayan playmaker Kaku fired home a stunning right-footed effort into the top corner, completing the turnaround and giving Al-Ain something to take home from a difficult campaign. With the win, Al-Ain finished third in their group, while Wydad exited winless at the bottom. Group winners Manchester City beat Juventus 5–2 to secure top spot.
Back in Nashville, Al-Hilal knew that their destiny was in their own hands following back-to-back draws against Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg. This time entering as clear favorites, Simone Inzaghi’s side took the initiative early.
Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a well-placed finish, settling the nerves for the Saudi side. They held firm under pressure before sealing the result deep into stoppage time, with Marcos Leonardo pouncing in the 95th minute to put the game beyond doubt.
Madrid’s 3–0 dismantling of Salzburg ensured that both Los Blancos and Al-Hilal progressed from the group. The Saudis now brace for a colossal test: a round of 16 encounter against treble-winners Manchester City, scheduled for June 30 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
For Al-Hilal, the path ahead is daunting—but they stand as Asia’s last beacon on the global stage. With Real Madrid behind them and Manchester City up next, the Saudi champions must now summon the belief, discipline, and quality to turn promise into history.