While Inzgahi hasn’t had much time to work with the squad, he will be boosted by the return of Joao Cancelo, with the full-back having been out since suffering an injury in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 quarter-final against Gwangju FC in April. 

The Portuguese’s availability will be welcome news for Inzaghi, who will also expect Saudi Arabia international Salem Al Dawsari and Aleksandar Mitrovic to provide the spark upfront against 15-time European champions Real Madrid. 

Al Dawsari was part of the Al Hilal side that reached the final of the 2022 edition where they lost 5-3 to Real Madrid with the 33-year-old keen to at least match that achievement.

“We’re striving to reach the final,” said Al Dawsari. “Us players are determined to achieve something big for Al Hilal and Saudi football.” 

There will also be a new tactician in the Real Madrid dug-out, with former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso replacing Carlo Ancelotti in the post-season.

Juggling his multi-talented squad will be a priority for Alonso as he looks to implement new ideas, with Real Madrid chasing a sixth FIFA Club World Cup title. 

"We're starting a new era and we have to prioritise what's important: what we want to be, how we want to play and how we want to feel it,” said Alonso, a UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 2013/14.

“We want to be able to do that right from the start, starting with the match against Al Hilal. First, we have to recognise ourselves.”

Venue: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

Kick-off: Wednesday, 15:00 (UTC-4)