Real Madrid, the most successful club in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup with 5 titles, begin their 2025 campaign with a familiar fixture — a rematch of the 2022 final against Al Hilal, where the Spanish giants triumphed 5-3 to claim their fifth crown, with Vinicius and Valvade scoring brace, and Benzema scoring 1.
The Saudi club, who showed attacking flair in that memorable final, will be looking to cause a stir again. With upcoming group matches against Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg, Al Hilal have a realistic shot at advancing, but overcoming Real Madrid in their opener will be a tall order.
Another goal-laden contest like the one in 2022 may be optimistic, but Al Hilal’s attacking potential means they could still find the net at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are entering a new chapter under Xabi Alonso, who aims to restore the club’s dominance on the global stage. The squad has been reinforced with the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool to bolster the defense and the exciting young talent Franco Mastantuono from River Plate. With fresh faces and a bold vision, Madrid are looking to begin this Club World Cup run in emphatic fashion.
