Hoping to emerge victorious debuting both a new manager and star signing, Real Madrid open their 2025 Club World Cup on Wednesday with a group stage match against star-studded Saudi side Al Hilal in Miami.

Names like Bruno Fernandes, Victor Osimhen and Theo Hernandez have thus far turned down big Saudi Arabian offers

Al-Hilal's CEO Esteve Calzada discusses the challenges faced by the club during the Club World Cup preparations due to excessive financial demands. Despite parting ways with Neymar, the team is still confident with players like Ruben Neves.

The Spanish giants come into the Club World Cup on the back of a disappointing campaign. After winning the UEFA Super Cup in August, they fall short in La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, which marks their first trophy-less season since 2021.

Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said they were confident in their Club World Cup squad's strength despite failing to secure any big names in the tournament's build-up, adding that talks with several targets collapsed due to excessive financial demands.

Flamengo have competed in the Club World Cup twice before. In 2019, they reached the final after defeating Al Hilal in the semifinals but lost 1–0 in extra time to Liverpool. In 2022, they returned but finished third, having lost the semifinal to Al Hilal in a surprise upset before beating Al Ahly for third place.

Al Hilal secured their spot at the FIFA Club World Cup and will play in Group H. Here is how their schedule at the competition in 2025 will look, and why Neymar will not be involved.

Al-Hilal will be the standard bearers for Asian football at the revamped Club World Cup after appointing Simone Inzaghi to coach a squad bristling with playing talent from Saudi Arabia and around the world.