The highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup group stage match between Al-Hilal and Pachuca took place on Thursday, June 26, 2025 with kickoff at 20:00 local time at GEODIS Park in Nashville, USA. This fixture was crucial for both teams as they sought to secure progression to the tournament's knockout rounds.
The encounter saw Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal face off against Mexico’s Pachuca in a decisive Group H match. Al-Hilal entered the fixture needing a win to advance, while Pachuca aimed to salvage pride after earlier defeats.
Starting Lineups
| Al-Hilal (4-3-3) | Pachuca (3-4-3) |
|---|---|
| GK: Yassine Bounou | GK: Sebastian Jurado |
| LB: Renan Lodi | CB: Bauermann |
| CB: Kalidou Koulibaly | CB: Pereira |
| CB: Ali Al-Tambakti | CB: Rodriguez |
| RB: Joao Cancelo | RM: Montiel |
| CM: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic | CM: Bautista |
| CM: Ruben Neves | CM: Palavecino |
| CM: Nasser Al-Dawsari | LM: Kenedy |
| LW: Salem Al-Dawsari | RW: Dominguez |
| CF: Marcos Leonardo | CF: Salomón Rondón |
| RW: Malcom | LW: Sanchez |
Coach: Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal), Guillermo Almada (Pachuca)
Key Match Events
- 22nd Minute: Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring for Al-Hilal with a spectacular right-footed lob over Pachuca’s goalkeeper, Sebastian Jurado, after receiving a lofted pass from Nasser Al-Dawsari.
- Second-Half Stoppage Time (90'+5): Marcos Leonardo sealed the victory with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Rúben Neves on a fast break, making it 2-0.
- Defensive Standout: Kalidou Koulibaly marshaled Al-Hilal’s defense, effectively neutralizing Pachuca’s attacking threats, especially striker Salomón Rondón.
- Goalkeeper Heroics: Yassine Bounou made crucial saves to keep Pachuca at bay and preserve the clean sheet for Al-Hilal.
Goals
- 22' Salem Al-Dawsari (Assist: Nasser Al-Dawsari)
- 90'+5' Marcos Leonardo (Assist: Ruben Neves)
Match Stats
| Statistic | Al-Hilal | Pachuca |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Shots (on target) | 7 (3) | 8 (2) |
| Possession (%) | 54 | 46 |
| Corners | 5 | 3 |
| Fouls | 14 | 12 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 2 | 1 |
Group H Standings After Al-Hilal vs Pachuca
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +5 | 7 |
| Al Hilal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
| RB Salzburg | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
| Pachuca | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
P = Played | W = Wins | D = Draws | L = Losses | GD = Goal Difference | Pts = Points