- Al Hilal withdraws from Saudi Super Cup due to extreme player fatigue
- Club cites short recovery after Club World Cup in the USA
- Medical checks showed signs of exhaustion among key players
Key Takeaways:
Al Hilal will not take part in the Saudi Super Cup this August due to player fatigue and a short break after the Club World Cup, the club officially announced. The Riyadh-based team was scheduled to face Al Qadsiah in the semi-finals of the tournament, which is set to take place between August 19 and 23. In the other semi-final, Al Nassr will face Al Ittihad.
🚨 Official:#AlHilal has apologized for not participating in the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong due to a scheduling conflict with the players’ vacation and the team’s pre-season camp.#HilalZone pic.twitter.com/e0rFQjYvye
— Hilal Zone (@Hilalzon) July 20, 2025
The draw for the Super Cup was held on June 19, just a day after Al Hilal’s opening match against Real Madrid in the group stage of the Club World Cup. The Saudi team reached the quarter-finals of the competition in the United States, where their last game was played on July 4.
After that match, the team had to stay in Orlando for an additional three days due to travel restrictions, further shortening the players’ vacation. As a result, Al Hilal decided to postpone the start of their preparation for the upcoming season. Moreover, the domestic competition calendar published on June 1 made no mention of the Super Cup being held in Hong Kong.
The decision to withdraw from the Super Cup came after medical evaluations of several players, which showed signs of severe fatigue following a demanding season that lasted a year and one week. Many of the players also took part in national team camps without a break and went directly to the Club World Cup.