One of the biggest soccer clubs in Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal, has announced they will not be playing in the upcoming 2025-26 Saudi Super Cup. This tournament is usually a fun and exciting competition that takes place before the start of the regular league season, but this year, Al Hilal says they just don’t have the time or energy to take part.
So why is Al Hilal stepping away from the action? Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand.
Who is Al Hilal?
Al Hilal is one of the most successful soccer teams in all of Asia. They play in the Saudi Pro League, which is the top league in Saudi Arabia. Over the years, they’ve won more than 18 league titles and several AFC Champions League trophies. Many fans call them the “Blue Wave” because of their team color and powerful play style.
Just like Manchester United in England or Real Madrid in Spain, Al Hilal is a super famous club that represents a big part of their country’s soccer pride.
What’s the Saudi Super Cup?
The Saudi Super Cup is a short tournament usually played by the best teams from the previous season. It normally includes the Saudi Pro League champion and the King’s Cup winner (or sometimes the runner-up if a team won both). Think of it like a “mini championship” to celebrate the top clubs before the next season starts.
This year, the Super Cup is scheduled to happen in Hong Kong between August 19–23. But even though it sounds exciting, Al Hilal says they won’t be there.
Too Many Matches, Not Enough Rest
According to Al Hilal, the main reason they’re skipping the Super Cup is because of how many games they’ve already played recently — and how little time their players have had to rest.
Let’s go back a few months. Al Hilal finished their 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season in second place, just behind champions Al Ittihad. That season ended in late May. But Al Hilal wasn’t done yet. They also competed in the:
King’s Cup (they were knocked out in the quarterfinals)
AFC Champions League (they made it to the semifinals, which is the final 4)
Then, just a few weeks later, they traveled all the way to the United States to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup — a big international tournament that brings together the best teams from each continent. Saudi Super Cup
Al Hilal vs the World’s Best Teams
On June 18, Al Hilal played Real Madrid, the famous Spanish team that has won the UEFA Champions League 15 times — more than any other club in Europe.
Then came a huge surprise! In the Round of 16, Al Hilal defeated Manchester City, who were the Champions League winners from England and one of the strongest teams in the world. This was one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament!
But their magical run came to an end in the quarterfinals, where they lost to Fluminense, a strong team from Brazil. That match took place on July 4, meaning players didn’t get much rest after a super intense summer of top-level soccer.
Travel Troubles and Tired Legs
Not only did Al Hilal play a lot of matches, but they also had travel issues. Flying between continents for games can be really tiring, and sometimes flight delays or scheduling problems can make things even worse.
After coming back from the United States, the club said that because of flight complications and the long tournament, their players would only get 24 days of vacation — and only 21 days if they were to also play in the Saudi Super Cup.
But here’s the problem: Soccer rules in Saudi Arabia say players must get at least 28 days of rest each year. That’s a minimum break that allows players to stay healthy, recover from injuries, and spend time with their families.
So, if Al Hilal played in the Super Cup, they’d be breaking that rule — and risking their players’ health and happiness. That’s why the club decided to withdraw.
Official Statement from the Club
In their official message, Al Hilal said they had no choice but to postpone their pre-season training, which made it even harder to get ready for the next league season. They also said this created a “competitive imbalance”, meaning other teams would be more prepared while Al Hilal was still recovering.
The club sent a letter to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) explaining all this and asking to be excused from the Saudi Super Cup.
SAFF Responds
In response, SAFF said they will look into the situation and handle it according to the rules. They didn’t say exactly what would happen next or if another team will replace Al Hilal in the Super Cup.
The Super Cup is still scheduled to be held in Hong Kong, which is a pretty unique location far from Saudi Arabia. Some fans believe this may be part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to grow the game internationally and get more people interested in Middle Eastern soccer.
Soccer Fact Time!
Here are some fun and useful facts related to this story:
The FIFA Club World Cup is held every year and features the champions from each continent, including Europe (UEFA), Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), and more.
Rest time is super important for players, especially after long seasons. Without enough rest, players are more likely to get injured.
Al Hilal holds the record for most Saudi Pro League titles, and they’ve also won the AFC Champions League four times!
Teams like Manchester City and Real Madrid spend hundreds of millions of dollars on their squads — so when a team like Al Hilal beats them, it’s a huge deal!
- Saudi Super Cup
In Summary
Al Hilal’s decision to skip the Saudi Super Cup isn’t about avoiding competition — it’s about protecting their players’ health and making sure the team is ready for a long season ahead. They’ve had a crazy busy year full of travel, big games, and exciting wins. But now, it’s time to hit the pause button and take a break.
Fans will surely miss seeing them in the Super Cup, but most people understand that even soccer stars need rest. And when the new season begins, Al Hilal will be back — stronger, healthier, and ready to chase more trophies.
