June 22, 2025; Washington, Columbia district, United States; Al Hilal FC’s defender, Joao Cancelo (20), the ball defends by FC midfielder Salzburg, Oscar Gloukh (30) in the first half, in a group phase of the FIFA 2025 club World Cup in Audi Field. Compulsory credit: Amber Searls-Imagn images Two of the surprise teams of the FIFA club World Cup will meet in the first quarter of Friday between Al Hilal and Fluminense in Orlando, Florida.
Al Hilal succeeded in the single of the most notable tournament in the tournament to date, a 4-3 victory over the English giants of Manchester City on Monday.
Maybe the result should not have been so surprising. With a payroll north of $ 200 million, the Saudi club includes several former stars of major European clubs, including the former man defender City Joao Cancelo. And they have already obtained a 1-1 draw with the five-time World Cup champion of Real Madrid during group H.
But even Al Hilal themselves recognized that it would take an extraordinary effort to defeat an opponent who had won four of the five previous preceding titles.
“Clearly this evening, we had to do something extraordinary,” insisted manager Simone Inzaghi, who was hired before the Inter Milan tournament, in translated remarks of his post-match press conference. “Basically, we had to climb the Everest without oxygen, and we did. We were really great. The players were exceptional.”
The former hope of Santos and Benfica Marcos Leonardo, 22, scored the first goal of the Saudi team in the 46th minute and the last of 112nd. It was just part of a wild match which was knotted 2-2 after 90 minutes before three other goals were scored in overtime.
Fluminense was part of a broader Brazilian movement in this tournament, in which the four participants of the South American nation reached the direct elimination phase. The Rio side of Janiero is one of the two to reach the quarter -finals with Palmeiras de Sao Paulo.
Although the 2-0 of Fluminense victory over Inter Milan did not receive as much attention as the triumph of Al Hilal, it may be only because the neutrals have gotten used to the Brazilian teams prosper during this tournament. It was the third Brazilian victory over a traditional European power after Flamengo’s 3-1 victory against Chelsea and Botafogo 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain during the group phase.
“Brazilian football shows its strength,” said director Renato Gaucho, as reported by the Brazilian newspaper O Globo. “European clubs have more money and can sign the best players, but on the field, what matters is attitude and commitment.”
The German cano marked in the third minute and Hercules sealed the victory in the third minute of the second half. Between the two, Fabio, 44, made four stops to keep a third white sheet of the tournament and one fifth out of six competitions.
– field level media