How they qualified: Winners of AFC Champions League™ 2021

Previous Appearances:3; Runners-up in 2023 

Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi (ITA) 

2024/25 Form: Semi-finals of AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25, Runners-up in Saudi Pro League 

Group H fixtures: June 18: v Real Madrid (ESP), June 22: v Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), June 26: v Club de Futbol Pachuca (MEX)

Simone Inzaghi, who guided Italy's Inter to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 final, will be in charge after having been appointed just days ago. 

While the Italian has inherited a talent-laden squad, he has to work around the clock to get Al Hilal up to speed especially with the hurdles they face in Group H.

The Riyadh-based side open their campaign against Spain's Real Madrid, who denied them the FIFA Club World 2022 title with a thrilling 5-3 win in the final.

It was Al Hilal's third appearance on the global stage and what makes them an exciting prospect for this year's challenge is that they have a much stronger squad.

Although Inzaghi has his own preferred style, the tactician is unlikely to make too many changes to how Al Hilal play as results will be the immediate target before work starts on tuning the side to his methods.

Salem Al Dawsari, as always, will be a key figure with the captain at the top of his game despite Al Hilal's trophy-less season.

Al Dawsari was the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25's top scorer with 10 goals and with the likes Aleksander Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Malcom also in their ranks, Al Hilal will be a force at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.