Real Madrid are the record five-times Club World Cup winners, their most-recent triumph coming in February 2023, defeating Al-Hilal 5-3 in Rabāṭ, this the only time these clubs have met to date. Now the Blancos are living a new era under Xabi Alonso
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal preview
Will Real Madrid add yet more silverware to their cabinet later this summer? Los Blancos already boast three Intercontinental Cups, five Club World Cups and 15 Champions League titles, all of which is a record, crowned European champions in six of the last 12 seasons. This campaign though, by their own high standards, has been an unparalleled disaster. Los Merengues lost four Clásicos in the same season for the first time ever, beaten in both the final of the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España by Barcelona. Meantime, they finished second in La Liga, four points below Barça, and were embarrassingly smashed 5-1 by Arsenal at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League.
As a result, Carlo Ancelotti departed by mutual consent to become the Brazil manager last month, with Xabi Alonso his replacement, very much thrown in at the deep end, taking over just in time for this tournament. Nevertheless, despite their turbulent campaign, Real Madrid are still very much amongst the favourites to go all the way this summer, with this likely to be their toughest group stage fixtures, considering they'll take on Pachuca and then Red Bull Salzburg afterwards.
As for Al-Hilal, many believe they could be the non-European side that makes the deepest run this summer. The Blue Wave have won the AFC Champions League on four occasions, most-recently in 2019 and 2021, while they were Saudi Pro League champions in 2023/24, going the entire campaign undefeated, winning 31 of 34 fixtures. Well, despite this, they actually missed out on this year's title, finishing eight points adrift Al-Ittihad, also dumped out in the Champions League semis by Al-Ahli.
Given these disappointments, manager Jorge Jesus was sacked last month, with Simone Inzaghi appointed as his successor ahead of this tournament, following a very successful four-year stint as Inter Milan head coach. So, boasting a star-studded squad, now with a top-class manager, Al-Hilal are hoping to do some damage this summer, starting at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, so can they claim a massive scalp in Miami?
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal head-to-head record
- Matches Played: 1.
- Real Madrid Wins: 1. Draws: Zero. Al-Hilal Wins: Zero.
Real Madrid team news
Ahead of Xabi Alonso's first match in charge, Real Madrid are depleted. Defenders Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy are all injured so, luckily, Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold have arrived, thereby set to be thrown in for their debuts.
Elsewhere, Thibaut Courtois is a doubt due to a back injury, but is expected to be fit to start, while Real Madrid's most-decorated player of all-time Luka Modrić could start, set to leave the club for AC Milan after this tournament. Lastly, Rodryo has not featured since 26 April, sitting out four matches after a falling out with Carlo Ancelotti, but will he be restored to the team under Alonso?
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Al-Hilal: (4-3-3): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Asencio, García; Tchouaméni, Modrić, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinícius, Mbappé.
Real Madrid player to watch vs Al-Hilal
Kylian Mbappé has scored 43 goals during his debut campaign in Madrid so far, including nine in five outings in May, so will he continue that red-hot form in June?
Al-Hilal team news
Al-Hilal will put out a star-studded lineup. Moroccan number one Yassine Bounou will be donning the gloves, with Renan Lodi and Kalidou Koulibaly forming part of the back-line, potentially alongside João Cancelo, although he is a doubt due to a muscle tear.
Meantime, midfield partnerships don't come much better than Rúben Neves alongside Sergej Milinković-Savić, with former Barça winger and Saudi Arabia's best player Salem Al-Dawsari further forward. Simone Inzaghi was very much a back three man during his time in charge of Inter, but Al-Hilal have favoured a back four under Jorge Jesus, so it'll be interesting to see what they go for.
Al-Hilal predicted lineup vs Real Madrid: (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Al-Tombakti, Lodi; Neves, Milinković-Savić, Malcom, Al-Dawsari, Kanno; Mitrović.
Al-Hilal player to watch vs Real Madrid
Aleksandar Mitrović is very much Al-Hilal's main man for goals, scoring 68 times in 79 appearances for the club to date, that's a goal every 93 minutes, so will he be on target in Miami?
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal prediction
The previous meeting between these two sides produced eight goals, with another high-scoring affair forecast here too, but once again we're backing Real Madrid to prevail: Real Madrid 3-1 Al-Hilal.
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal FAQs - FIFA Club World Cup
How to watch Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal FIFA Club World Cup game on TV channel?
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal FIFA Club World Cup game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: Channel 5 and DAZN UK
- USA: TNT Sports, TUDN and DAZN USA.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal FIFA Club World Cup game on live streaming?
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal FIFA Club World Cup game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: My5 and DAZN UK
- USA: TNT Sports, TUDN and DAZN USA.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal takes place on Wednesday 18 June 2025, with kick off at 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (EDT) & 12:00 (PDT).