- Real Madrid begin their campaign tonight at 21:00 CET against Al-Hilal in Group H
- The match marks a debut for both Xabi Alonso and Simone Inzaghi with their new clubs
- Real Madrid and Al-Hilal enter the tournament after disappointing 2024/25 campaigns
Key Takeaways:
After several days of action at the FIFA Club World Cup, it is now time for Real Madrid to enter the competition. Tonight at 21:00 CET, Los Blancos face Al-Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, in a Group H match. It will be special, as it marks the debut for both head coaches – Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) and Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal).
🇪🇸 REAL MADRID vs AL HILAL 🇸🇦
• Xabi Alonso's FIRST match as manager of Real Madrid today
• Simone Inzaghi's FIRST match as manager of Al Hilal today pic.twitter.com/LIcpjuPhet
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) June 18, 2025
Following a disappointing past season in Europe, Real are undergoing a transitional phase, and now we’ll see if the mood has returned. Carlo Ancelotti has been replaced, and new additions to the squad include Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen. Another signing – Franco Mastantuono – is currently participating in the competition with River Plate and will join Real Madrid afterwards. In typical fashion, Real Madrid have announced their ambition to win the tournament and mark the launch of its new expanded format.
There’s plenty of intrigue surrounding Al-Hilal as well. This is the new club of Simone Inzaghi, who left Inter after the heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Like Real, the team from Riyadh also endured disappointment on the domestic front in Saudi Arabia, losing the league title. The squad is packed with big names from European football – Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Renan Lodi, and others.
Two and a half years ago, Real Madrid defeated Al-Hilal 5-3 in the final of the then-edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. The top two teams from group H, also featuring Pachuca and Salzburg, will progress to the Round of 16, where they will face opponents from the group featuring Juventus and Manchester City.