Al Hilal eliminates Manchester City in Club World Cup upset

Al Hilal delivered a stunning upset by eliminating Manchester City 4-3 in extra time during the round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in Orlando, Florida. Despite Manchester City entering the match as the fourth-ranked club globally and taking an early lead through Bernardo Silva, Al Hilal rallied with goals from Marcos Leonardo, Malcom, and Kalidou Koulibaly, with Leonardo scoring the decisive goal in the 112th minute. The Saudi Arabian side capitalized on defensive lapses and made key saves by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, while Manchester City squandered several scoring opportunities and were hampered by a controversial goal early in the match. Phil Foden scored twice for City, including a sublime equalizer in extra time, but it was not enough to prevent the shock defeat. This result marks a significant blow for Manchester City, who spent nearly £300 million in 2025 but now exit the tournament before the quarterfinals, ending their last hope for silverware this season. Al Hilal will face Brazilian club Fluminense in the quarterfinals, continuing their historic run in the tournament.