Excitement is building in Miami as Al Hilal supporters gather ahead of the much-anticipated Club World Cup match against European giants Real Madrid on Wednesday. Fans have traveled from Riyadh, the home of the 19-time Saudi Pro League champions, to the sunny shores of Miami Beach to cheer on their team.
The Buzz Around Miami Beach
Dozens of jubilant Al Hilal fans have been spotted on Miami Beach, waving flags and chanting, drawing curious looks from passersby. Among the crowd was Abdulelah, who flew to the U.S. on Friday to attend the opening ceremony with his friends. He was also joined by his nephews, Faisal, 13, and Fahd, 9.
“Al Hilal is the giant team in Asia,” said Abdulelah. “We are like Real Madrid in Europe.”
A Confident Prediction
The last time Al Hilal and Real Madrid faced off was during the 2022 Club World Cup final in Morocco, where Real Madrid came out on top with a 5-3 victory. However, Abdulelah is feeling optimistic about the upcoming match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
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“Tomorrow’s the first version of the revamped Club World Cup, and we’re gonna win. Trust me. I know what I’m telling you. It’s going to be a very interesting match.”
Young Fans Share Their Hopes
Faisal, who has been supporting Al Hilal since he first got into football, is also excited about the big game.
“Since I got to know football, my father always told me: ‘Support Al Hilal. Support Al Hilal.’ And I support them!” Faisal said.
When asked about facing off against Real Madrid, he added, “Madrid is a big team, so it’s good that we play against them and we’ll be in the spotlight. I hope it’s a win – like what happened against Argentina for Saudi (2-1 in the 2022 World Cup).”
Fahd, his younger brother, also weighed in on the match. “It should mean a lot to win,” he said. “It should put us in the spotlight and make us a global team. (We will win) 2-1,” he predicted.
A Shared Confidence Among Supporters
Ahmed, a student from Seattle, also made the trip to Miami to watch the match with his friends and was equally confident about Al Hilal’s chances.
“We’re gonna win,” he said, smiling. He even mentioned that if Al Hilal wins, they could face his favorite English team, Manchester City, in the next round.
When asked who would win between the two, Ahmed didn’t hesitate: “Of course, Al Hilal are going to win. Of course!”
The Big Match
Al Hilal will face Real Madrid at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday at 3:00 PM ET (9:00 PM CET). Fans are hoping to see their team claim a big victory and take another step toward global recognition.