Al Hilal Vs Pachuca

Sunday’s goalless draw against Salzburg left Al-Hilal simmering with frustration, particularly after their impressive 1–1 stalemate with the illustrious Real Madrid in the previous fixture.

Heading into their Group H match in the sweltering heat of Washington, D.C., the Saudi giants believed they had everything going for them—they controlled possession and dictated the pace—but ultimately found themselves stifled by Salzburg’s resilient defense. What once felt like a promising route to the Club World Cup’s knockout rounds slipped through their fingers.

Now, all hopes rest on the final matchday. Only a victory over Pachuca will keep Al-Hilal’s knockout dreams alive—and even then, their fate won’t be guaranteed.

To clarify the remaining permutations: should Al-Hilal secure a win, they’ll hope that Salzburg and Real Madrid’s match delivers a winner. In that scenario, the victorious side from that game would top the group, and the loser would be eliminated. However, if the Salzburg–Real Madrid clash finishes in a draw, a three-way tie emerges. With all three teams level on points, Al-Hilal’s negative goal difference places them at a disadvantage. What complicates matters further: goal tallies from matches against Pachuca do not factor into the tiebreaker. Consequently, even with a win against Pachuca, Al-Hilal could be unceremoniously eliminated if Salzburg and Real Madrid share the spoils.

Still, Al-Hilal aren’t stepping into their final group match without confidence. They’re unbeaten in their last seven games, since their AFC Champions League semifinal loss to Al-Ahli, and a win here would at least present a credible chance of progression. A key variable that could turn the tide? The potential return of star striker Aleksandar Mitrović, who has been sidelined due to injury.

Meanwhile, their Group H rivals, Pachuca, arrived at this World Cup after clinching the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Despite their continental success, their local campaign paints a less inspiring picture. They hold zero points after two matches—following a 2–1 defeat to Salzburg—and their earlier chance at redemption—revenge, even—against Real Madrid in the Intercontinental Cup final remains unresolved.

Their clash with Real Madrid on Sunday promised more. Pachuca spent the majority of the game with an extra man, yet they were horribly wasteful in front of goal. They created a staggering 25 shooting opportunities—the most any team has mustered against Real Madrid in a single 90‑minute contest in the last twelve years—but only managed to find the net once, through a late strike from Elías Montiel. The final scoreline read 3–1 in favor of a short‑handed Real Madrid, condemning Pachuca to a second successive Group H loss and effectively ending their hopes of a top‑two finish.

For Jaime Lozano’s side, elimination is now a mathematical certainty. With two defeats in two outings, their Club World Cup adventure will evaporate even if they win their final game against Real Madrid.

And so, the stage is set. Al-Hilal must focus wholly on the task at hand: secure a victory over Pachuca, hope for a clear result in the Salzburg‑Real match, and await the unfurling of complex tie-breaking criteria—goal difference, head-to-head results, and, crucially, the exclusion of Pachuca from the equation—to determine if their journey continues beyond the group stage.

Their ambition is clear: to shatter expectations, reach the last 16, and use that momentum to power through this historic tournament. Yet the road is narrow, and the margins are fine. The coming days will determine whether Al-Hilal’s determination triumphs—or whether this chapter closes abruptly under the unforgiving lens of tournament football.