Why Al-Hilal Succeeded While Other Arab Clubs Failed in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?

By: Dr. Hamada El-Antably

Despite broad Arab participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which featured teams such as Egypt’s Al Ahly, the UAE’s Al Ain, Tunisia’s Esperance, and Morocco’s Wydad, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal was the sole Arab team to achieve actual success by reaching the Round of 16 and delivering a striking competitive performance against first-tier clubs like Real Madrid and Mexico’s Pachuca.

This superiority was not a matter of coincidence, but rather the result of a long-term strategic path adopted by Saudi football in general, and Al-Hilal in particular, over recent years, with the Roshn Saudi League currently ranked among the top global leagues. While other Arab clubs contented themselves with local or limited regional competition, Al-Hilal embarked on the shift toward global professionalism, reaping the rewards on the club world stage.

Financial Strength Reflected in the Team’s Market Value

Al-Hilal’s squad market value reached approximately 153 million euros, significantly outperforming the rest of the Arab clubs: Egypt’s Al Ahly (50 million euros), the UAE’s Al Ain (45 million euros), Tunisia’s Esperance (20 million euros), and Morocco’s Wydad (17 million euros).

This disparity in spending and investment enabled Al-Hilal to sign international players at the peak of their performance, whereas other clubs relied on a mix of local players and less renowned, less experienced professionals.

A Battalion of International Stars

Al-Hilal possessed one of the strongest professional rosters in the tournament, featuring names like goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, defender Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielders Rúben Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić, and forwards Aleksandar Mitrović and Marcos Leonardo. All of them possess international experience in the World Cup and major leagues, imparting confidence and expertise to the team when facing giant clubs.

A High-Caliber European Coaching Staff

Al-Hilal was led by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, who boasts a rich record with Inter Milan, having reached the UEFA Champions League final with them in 2023. In comparison to the coaches of other Arab clubs whose experience varied between local or limited continental realms, Inzaghi provided a qualitative addition in reading matches and managing high-pressure situations.

The Fruit of a Clear Saudi Sports Vision

Al-Hilal’s success also reflects the shift in Saudi football orientations since 2021, featuring massive investments in infrastructure, the development of academies, and the attraction of stars within a comprehensive vision aimed at making the Saudi League one of the best globally prior to hosting the 2034 World Cup. This professional climate led to improved domestic performance, increased team competitiveness, and raised ambitions, which directly reflected in international participations. This investment vision made Saudi clubs (especially Al-Hilal) better prepared administratively and technically, with upgraded academies and the smooth flow of expertise playing a role in refining local players, while clubs also benefited from the high competitive environment within the Saudi League.

Conclusion:

Al-Hilal did not merely win matches; it presented a role model for the Arab world on how to build a team capable of competing in global tournaments. Its success is the result of accumulated experience and long-term investment, whereas the failure of others is not due to a shortage of human potential, but rather to the absence of a clear strategic vision and hesitation to fully engage in the world of true professionalism.

Will other Arab clubs begin to reassess their approach?

Perhaps Al-Hilal’s experience will mark the beginning of a new phase of Arab ambition in global football.

By: Dr. Hamada El-Antably Researcher in Sports Affairs – Writer and Lecturer