FIFA Club World Cup Shock: Al-Hilal Knock Out Manchester City in 4–3 Thriller

In what is already being hailed as one of the biggest upsets in recent football history, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal stunned European champions Manchester City with a 4–3 extra-time victory in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, played Monday night at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Pep Guardiola’s side paid the price for wastefulness and defensive lapses, bowing out of a tournament they were widely expected to win.

First-Half: City Start Strong but Al-Hilal Hang In

Manchester City began the game with intensity and purpose, quickly asserting their control. Their early dominance was rewarded in the 9th minute when Bernardo Silva finished off a slick team move to give the Premier League side a 1–0 lead.

However, Al-Hilal, led by coach Jorge Jesus, weathered the storm and stayed composed. Just after halftime, they capitalized on a rare City defensive breakdown. In the 46th minute, Marcos Leonardo slotted home the equalizer, leveling the match and flipping momentum.

Second-Half Drama: Goals and Comebacks

Al-Hilal took the lead just six minutes later through Brazilian winger Malcom, who curled in a superb finish in the 52nd minute to make it 2–1. But City responded almost immediately. Erling Haaland, always a threat, brought City back on level terms in the 55th minute with a powerful finish following a corner.

Guardiola’s side dominated the remainder of regular time, recording 19 corners and over 69% possession, but Yassine Bounou, Al-Hilal’s goalkeeper, made a string of brilliant saves to keep the scores level and push the game into extra time.

Extra Time: Al-Hilal Hold Their Nerve

The Saudis shocked City once again in the 94th minute when Kalidou Koulibaly rose highest to head in a corner and put Al-Hilal 3–2 up. Though Phil Foden responded with a stunning solo goal in the 104th minute to tie it again at 3–3, it was Marcos Leonardo who would write his name into history.

In the 112th minute, the young Brazilian striker ghosted behind the City defense and calmly finished a cutback to score what turned out to be the match-winner. Despite late efforts and a flurry of attempts by Manchester City, Al-Hilal held firm to secure a monumental 4–3 win.

Match Statistics

(Source: ESPN, FIFA.com)

Post-Match Reactions

Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure post-match:

“We had chances to kill the game, but credit to Al-Hilal — they were clinical and played with incredible heart. It’s a tough lesson.”

Al-Hilal’s head coach Jorge Jesus was full of praise for his team:

“It wasn’t just luck — we planned for this. We knew City would dominate the ball, so we waited, pressed at the right times, and took our chances.”

Global Significance of the Upset

The defeat marks an early exit for the Champions League winners and a huge setback for Guardiola’s treble-chasing ambitions in 2025. For Al-Hilal, the win is historic — becoming the first Saudi club to beat Manchester City and doing so on a world stage.

The result also represents a statement victory for Asian football and underscores the growing quality and competitiveness of clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

What’s Next?

• Al-Hilal advances to the quarter-finals, where they will face Fluminense of Brazil.
• Manchester City exits the competition in shock and turns focus back to domestic and European campaigns.
• The Club World Cup, now expanded, continues to surprise with more parity and unpredictability than ever before.

Manchester City came into this tournament as overwhelming favorites. But on a warm Florida evening, Al-Hilal showed that heart, strategy, and finishing can still trump possession and pedigree. It’s a game that will be talked about for years — and a result that shifts the perception of football’s global balance.