Fluminense v Al Hilal: Line-ups, stats and preview

Fluminense v Al Hilal match preview

At the age of 37, prolific striker German Cano is hoping to continue his scoring form to help Fluminense beat Al-Hilal in the 2025 Club World Cup quarter-finals.

Cano scored the third-minute opener as the Brazilian side ousted Champions League finalists Inter 2-0 in the last 16, enhancing a record of almost a goal every two games for his club.

“It’s among the best,” Cano replied when he was asked where the goal ranked in his career, with Brazilian outlet Globo also naming Fluminense as the least financially powerful team in the last eight and Al-Hilal the richest.

“I can’t choose just one, but that one will be remembered for everything it means and represents. For us, it’s historic to be able to qualify for the Club World Cup and be in the quarter-finals. I can only enjoy it and help the team.”

Cano, who spent 45 days out with a knee injury this year, says the Saudi Arabian heavyweights “ran a lot” in their remarkable 4-3 win over Manchester City after extra time.

“It’s going to be difficult. Everything is very finely balanced. We know we’re going to play against great opponents who have very fast, very intense players.”

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New Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi said his team had been able to “climb Mount Everest without oxygen” by beating City.

“All the players were exceptional in everything,” observed the Italian. “In the possession phase, the non-possession phase.

“The key was the players and the heart they put on the pitch. We had to do something extraordinary because we all know Manchester City.”

City led from Bernardo Silva’s ninth-minute opener, but Marcos Leonardo and Malcom turned the scoreline around within the first eight minutes of the second half before Erling Haaland ensured the tie entered extra time.

Goals from Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Leonardo then sent Al-Hilal through in Orlando, although Phil Foden replied with 16 minutes remaining.

Owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Al-Hilal finished second in the Pro League last season, while Fluminense are currently sixth in Serie A and four points behind leaders Flamengo.

Fluminense v Al Hilal team news

Left-back Rene is suspended for Fluminense, with Martinelli an injury doubt and fellow midfielder Otavio out with a ruptured Achilles since March.

Thiago Silva, who will be 41 in September, and Ignacio accompanied Juan Freytes as manager Renato switched to three centre-backs against Inter.

“It didn’t surprise us,” said Freytes. “Renato has accustomed us to changes. He changes players a lot and tries to give everyone a chance.

“He was a player and knows that trust is very important. I wasn’t surprised because he makes the decisions and it’s always for a reason.

“He believed we could win like this and it’s good that we did. We’re relaxed back there. Thiago talks all the time.

“I don’t need to talk about his career and everything he’s achieved. It’s a pleasure to play with him and all my team-mates. They all have a lot of history and experience.”

Al-Hilal are without striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 19 times in 23 Pro League games last season, and winger Salem Aldawsari.

They responded on Wednesday by signing Abderrazak Hamdallah – a striker who is six goals from becoming the all-time top scorer in the Saudi top flight – on loan from Al-Shabab.

Former Morocco international Hamdallah, who has joined the squad in the US, was level with Karim Benzema on 21 goals in the 2024/25 Pro League, reaching the total in three fewer games than the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.

Brazilian pair Leonardo and Malcom suffered from fatigue against City but were assessed and have trained fully since, according to Al-Riyadh, who said Hamdallah’s deal lasts six months.

3BMGCE2 Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi sits on the bench prior to the Club World Cup Group H soccer match between Al Hilal and CF Pachuca in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Fluminense v Al Hilal expected line-ups

Fluminense starting XI: Fabio, Samuel Xavier, Ignacio, Thiago Silva, Juan Freytes, Soteldo; Bernal, Nonato, Hercules, Arias, Cano

Al-Hilal starting XI: Bounou; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Al-Harbi, Lodi; Neves, Al Dawsari, Kanno, Milinkovic-Savic; Hamdallah, Leonardo

How to watch Fluminense v Al Hilal: TV and online streams

Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST, with free live coverage on Channel 5 and the Channel 5 app.

John Obi Mikel, Sami Khedira, Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Shay Given, Callum Wilson, Andros Townsend, Ade Oladipo, Kelly Somers and Fabrizio Romano are among Channel 5’s pundits and presenters.

Their co-commentators are Andros Townsend, Michael Brown, Brad Friedel, Rob Green, Danny Higginbotham, Don Hutchison, Jonas Olsson and Anita Asante.

A highlights and analysis show, The Press, will be presented by James Alcott and Julien Laurens and analyse each day’s games on 5’s streaming service.

Fluminense v Al Hilal stats

Fluminense v Al Hilal prediction

Expect a tight game between two of the surprise packages of the tournament, with Al-Hilal perhaps winning by a goal to reflect their slightly shorter odds with bookmakers.

Al-Hilal have a 50% chance of victory compared to Fluminense’s prospects of under 26%, according to stats experts Opta.

Late goals would be a continuation of form: three of Al-Hilal’s seven at the tournament have come after the 93rd minute, with three of Fluminense’s six arriving after the 82nd.

“It’s proven that this [competition] brings surprises all the time,” predicted Freytes. “It’s going to be a very tough and complicated game, both for us and them.”

Club World Cup quarter-final fixtures

Friday, July 4

Match 57: Fluminense vs Al-Hilal (Orlando, 20:00)

Saturday, July 5

Match 58: Palmeiras vs Chelsea (Philadelphia, 02:00)
Match 59: PSG vs Bayern (Atlanta, 17:00)
Match 60: Real Madrid vs Dortmund (New Jersey, 21:00)

Club World Cup semi-final fixtures

Tuesday, July 8

Match 61: Winner match 57 vs Winner match 58 (New Jersey, 20:00)

Wednesday, July 9

Match 62: Winner match 59 vs Winner match 60 (New Jersey, 20:00)

FIFA Club World Cup Final

Sunday, July 13

Match 63: Winner match 61 vs Winner match 62 (New Jersey, 20:00)

Club World Cup round of 16 results

Saturday, June 28

Match 49: Palmeiras 1-0 Botafogo (after extra time, Philadelphia)
Match 50: Benfica 1-4 Chelsea (after extra time, Charlotte)

Sunday, June 29

Match 51: PSG 4-0 Inter Miami (Atlanta)
Match 52: Flamengo 2-4 Bayern (Miami)

Monday, June 30

Match 53: Inter Milan 0-2 Fluminense (Charlotte)

Tuesday, July 1

Match 54: Man City 3-4 Al-Hilal (after extra time, Orlando)
Match 55: Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus (Miami)

Wednesday, July 2

Match 56: Dortmund 2-1 Monterrey (Atlanta)

Fifa Club World Cup 2025 group stage results

Sunday, June 15

Group A: Al-Ahly 0-0 Miami (Miami)
Group C: Bayern Munich 10-0 Auckland (Cincinnati)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Atletico Madrid (Los Angeles)
Group A: Palmeiras 0-0 Porto (New Jersey)

Monday, June 16

Group B: Botafogo 2-1 Seattle Sounders (Seattle)
Group D: Chelsea 2-0 Los Angeles FC (Atlanta)
Group C: Boca Juniors 2-2 Benfica (Miami)

Tuesday, June 17

Group D: Flamengo 2-0 Esperance (Philadelphia)
Group F: Fluminense 0-0 Borussia Dortmund (New Jersey)
Group E: River Plate 3-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (Seattle)
Group F: Ulsan 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns (Orlando)

Wednesday, June 18

Group E: Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan (Los Angeles)
Group G: Manchester City 2-0 Wydad (Philadelphia)
Group H: Real Madrid 1-1 Al-Hilal (Miami)
Group H: Pachuca 1-2 Salzburg (Cincinnati)

Thursday, June 19

Group G: Al-Ain 0-5 Juventus (Washington)
Group A: Palmeiras 2-0 Al-Ahly (New Jersey)
Group A: Inter Miami 2-1 Porto (Atlanta)
Group B: Seattle 1-3 Atletico Madrid (Seattle)

Friday, June 20

Group B: PSG 0-1 Botafogo (Los Angeles)
Group C: Benfica 6-0 Auckland City (Orlando)
Group D: Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea (Philadelphia)
Group D: LAFC 0-1 Esperance (Nashville)

Saturday, June 21

Group C: Bayern 2-1 Boca Juniors (Miami)
Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns 3-4 Dortmund (Cincinnati)
Group E: Inter Milan 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (Seattle)
Group F: Fluminense 4-2 Ulsan (New Jersey)

Sunday, June 22

Group E: River Plate 0-0 Monterrey (Los Angeles)
Group G: Juventus 4-1 Wydad (Philadelphia)
Group H: Real Madrid 3-1 Pachuca (Charlotte)
Group H: Salzburg 0-0 Al-Hilal (Washington)

Monday, June 23

Group G: Man City 6-0 Al-Ain (Atlanta)
Group B: Seattle 0-2 PSG (Seattle)
Group B: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Botafogo (Los Angeles)

Tuesday, June 24

Group A: Porto 4-4 Al-Ahly (New Jersey)
Group A: Inter Miami 2-2 Palmeiras (Miami)
Group C: Auckland 1-1 Boca Juniors (Nashville)
Group C: Benfica 1-0 Bayern (Charlotte)

Wednesday, June 25

Group D: LAFC 1-1 Flamengo (Orlando)
Group D: Esperance 0-3 Chelsea (Philadelphia)
Group F: Dortmund 1-0 Ulsan (Cincinnati)
Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Fluminense (Miami)

Thursday, June 26

Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds 0-4 Monterrey (California)
Group E: Inter Milan 2-0 River Plate (Seattle)
Group G: Juventus 2-5 Man City (Orlando)
Group G: Wydad 1-2 Al-Ain (Washington)

Friday, June 27

Group H: Salzburg 0-3 Real Madrid (Philadelphia)
Group H: Al-Hilal 2-0 Pachuca (Nashville)

How to watch the Club World Cup: Live stream, TV channel in UK

Live coverage of 40 of the matches is on DAZN, with 23 on Channel 5. DAZN Subscribers or Freemium member can tune in as part of their existing membership, while non-subscribers can register for a free account to start watching.

Fans can watch on the go via the DAZN App on smart TVs, phones, tablets, games consoles and streaming devices.