Dozens of jubilant Al Hilal fans gathered in Miami prior to their club World Cup showdown with European giant Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Many supporters arrived in the city from Riyadh, where the 19-way Saudi Pro League champions were located, and arrived at Miami Beach waving flags and singing for various astonishing spectators.
Among them was Abdulelah who traveled to the US on Friday to view the opening ceremony with his friends before he met his nephews Faisal, 13, and Fahd, nine.
“Already Hilal is the huge team in Asia. We are like Real Madrid in Europe,” he said.
The last time the two parties met was at the World Cup Final of 2022 in Morocco, where Real Madrid won 5-3, but Abdulelah is convinced that this time there will only be one outcome in the Hard Rock Stadium.
“Tomorrow is the first version of the (renewed) Club World Cup (s) we are going to win. Believe me. I know what I am telling you. It will be a very interesting game.”
Al-Hilal fans gathered on Tuesday flash score on Miami Beach
Faisal said he started supporting the club as soon as he started watching the sport.
“Because I got to know football, my father always told me:” Supports Hilal. Support Al Hilal. “And I support them!
“Madrid is a big team, so it's good that we play against them and we will be in the spotlight. I hope it is a victory-as what happened to Argentina for Saudi (2-1 in the World Cup 2022).
“It should mean a lot (to win),” Fahd said of their opening group H match. “It should put us in the spotlight and make us a global team.
“(We will win) 2-1,” he predicted.
Ahmed, a student from Seattle, Washington, traveled to Miami to view the game with his friends and is just as confident.
“We're going to win,” he said.
In the next round, Hilal could be confronted with Manchester City, his favorite English team, if they both qualify.
When asked who would win between the two games, he said: “Of course, Hilal will win. Of course!”
Al-Hilal supporters were in jubilant vote for kick-offlash score
Al Hilal takes on Wednesday at 3:00 pm, 9:00 PM CET at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in Miami.