ORLANDO, Fla. – After a scoreless draw against FC Salzburg in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup, Al Hilal’s new coach, Simone Inzaghi, explained the importance of the tournament for his team.For many European clubs present in the United States this summer, the large sum of money offered seems to be the main motivation. However, Al Hilal, controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, with an estimated valuation of almost $100 billion, does not need the money.According to Inzaghi, what they really seek is to demonstrate to the world that they deserve a place at the top of world football. They already achieved a meritorious 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in the group stage and now face Manchester City in the round of 16 on Monday.
Our goal was to be among the best teams in the world. We didn’t come just to have fun. We came to play a World Cup and we wanted to reach this stage.
Simone InzaghiThe presence of Inzaghi at the helm of Al Hilal at Audi Field is proof of their ambitious aspirations. A month ago, the Italian coached Inter Milan in the Champions League final, where they fell to Paris Saint-Germain. His career at Inter, with two Champions League finals and a Serie A title in four years, added to his tactical ingenuity and passion, made him one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe, having previously been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona.However, it was Al Hilal who signed him. The negotiations prior to the Champions League final were kept secret and, only four days after Inter’s defeat in Munich, the agreement was announced.
This demonstrates our ambition. It puts us in a very favorable position to compete.
Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al Hilal
Founded in 1957, Al Hilal didn’t start from scratch, but it has been transformed thanks to investment in Saudi football. Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr in January 2023 put the Saudi Pro League in the spotlight, and Al Hilal followed suit with the signing of Neymar from PSG for 90 million euros eight months later. Injuries limited the Brazilian international, 33, to just seven appearances before returning to Santos, the club of his childhood, but the transfer put Al Hilal on the world football map.If most football fans outside Saudi Arabia previously could barely name any of their national teams, it is now common to see Al Hilal jerseys for sale in Europe. They have more than 40 million followers on social media, a figure comparable to that of some Premier League clubs.Al Hilal’s squad for the Club World Cup is packed with well-known names, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Rúben Neves, and João Cancelo.
They haven’t just recruited players from Europe. Like Cancelo, Calzada is also a former Manchester City employee.
A key piece of City’s success off the field for over a decade, alongside CEO Ferran Soriano, sporting director Txiki Begiristain and former director of football operations Omar Berrada (the group was also together at Barcelona), Calzada rose to the position of commercial director of the City Football Group before joining Al Hilal in January 2024.It will be very emotional to meet my friends (for the round of 16 match against City). I worked there for 12 years, and it’s probably the first time I want Manchester City to lose.SPL aspires to one day be recognized as one of the top five leagues in the world and, for Calzada, as for Inzaghi, the Club World Cup is an opportunity to see how Al Hilal compares.
It’s a great opportunity, especially when you play against teams like Real Madrid and now Manchester City. It’s a huge tournament, and we take it as a great opportunity, first of all, to compete, but also to show our level.
Esteve Calzada
Al Hilal was so eager to make a splash that they tried to sign Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the transfer market created especially by FIFA in June.Even without those reinforcements, the five points obtained in three matches, with only one goal conceded, were enough to advance from Group H. It was one of the three groups in which a European team was eliminated.In Saudi Arabia, the mission of representing the SPL on the world stage has transcended traditional club rivalries, and there have been reports that Al Nassr and Al Ittihad fans have shown public support for Al Hilal.
It’s not a surprise for us because we see the level of our team and how it’s progressing. That’s why, when we have the opportunity to show it to everyone else, it’s incredible. It’s not a marketing strategy, it’s a competition, and we want to go as far as possible.
Esteve Calzada
City will start the match in Orlando on Monday as the clear favorite, especially with Al Hilal’s growing injuries, but there are still high expectations for their opponents, historically the most successful club in Saudi Arabia.Inzaghi is only in charge because Jorge Jesus was sacked in May after losing the SPL title to Al Ittihad and being defeated in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite. At least at home, second place is not enough.
They call Al Hilal the Real Madrid of Saudi Arabia. There is a responsibility because everyone expects to win any match; finishing as runners-up like… last season certainly isn’t a success for us.
Esteve Calzada
Success in the Club World Cup has already been achieved. The goal was to measure up against the best, and a good performance against City will only emphasize the feeling that Al Hilal is not so far from matching the European elite.
It doesn’t feel any smaller than any of the big clubs I’ve worked for. The club has been managed very successfully, and now there’s a more ambitious plan. We want to be more global. We’ve moved to a new stadium, we’re modernizing. The foundation was there, and it can only get better with the kind of things we’re trying to do.
