Club World Cup: Fluminense vs. Al-Hilal clash

A Brazilian club and a Saudi team will face off on Friday, July 4, in Orlando, Florida, in a unique and unexpected duel in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup (at 9 p.m. Paris time). With five European heavyweights occupying the eight remaining spots in the new version of the intercontinental competition, the clash between Fluminense and Al-Hilal is a striking one. This is especially true given the elimination of Inter Milan, beaten by the Brazilians in the round of 16 (2-0), and Manchester City, beaten by the Saudi team until extra time (4-3).

While the issue of European football calendars remains central, that of a supposed (large) gap in level between Europe and the rest of the world is no longer a matter of debate. This is particularly true among the stars of the major leagues, such as Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who is annoyed by criticism of his international opponents. "We, football experts, have never doubted the level of the competition ," he said after his team's victory against Juventus Turin (1-0) in the round of 16. Obviously, if you believe four Twitter users [now X] who think the level is shit, you are wrong. But those who understand football know that Brazilian clubs are good, or that Al-Hilal is a great team."

It's hard to find a better way to promote the match between two teams that are polar opposites, both on and off the pitch. While the Tricolor (Fluminense's nickname), home to the legendary Maracana stadium and a pioneer of Brazilian football, can highlight its rich history, Al-Hilal, a symbol of Saudi football's sporting breakthrough, boasts virtually unlimited resources.

However, there are ties between the two clubs, particularly on the sporting front. Their recruitment policy, in fact, consists of recruiting veteran players. This is achieved with millions at Al-Hilal – majority-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund – which has been offering lavish early retirement packages for several years to former stars who are losing their form, such as Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, defender Kalidou Koulibaly, and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

For its part, the "Flu" is banking on homesickness and nostalgia, by bringing back Brazilian legends, like Thiago Silva (40 years old), the former defender and captain of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). A strategy that Renato Gaucho, the coach of Fluminense, boasted about following the elimination of Inter Milan: "We can't compete financially, but, on the pitch, it's eleven against eleven. We represent, without a doubt, Brazilian football very well."

More surprisingly, this is also the case for the Riyadh club. Since its founding in 1957, the "Croissant" has welcomed several Auriverde players into its ranks – although Neymar has left, there are four in the squad today – and seen more than twenty Brazilian coaches pass through its ranks, including the illustrious Mario Zagallo, world champion as a player (1958, 1962), then as a coach (1970).

The team is now overseen by Italian Simone Inzaghi, the former Inter Milan coach (2021-2025), hired on June 5, after the Nerazzurri's defeat in the Champions League final against PSG (5-0). Although he has only managed four matches since taking over, the tactician remains undefeated, and intends to extend this run to the final, where he could meet his Parisian executioner.