European champions Real Madrid and Saudi giants Al-Hilal both clinched qualification to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup following convincing victories in their final Group H matches.
At Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance to defeat Austrian side RB Salzburg 3–0 and finish top of Group H. Vinícius Jr. was at the heart of the action, scoring one goal and assisting another in a display of sharp attacking flair.
The Brazilian forward broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a fine solo effort, weaving through Salzburg’s backline before slotting home. Moments later, he turned provider, setting up Federico Valverde with an instinctive back heel that the Uruguayan midfielder rifled into the top corner just before the break.
Substitute Gonzalo García added a third in the 84th minute, sealing Madrid’s dominance and wrapping up a performance that reflected the tactical control instilled by head coach Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard deployed a three-man defence to offer stability, freeing up space for midfielders and wide players to dictate the tempo.
“We played with maturity and personality,” Alonso commented post-match. “Now the real tournament begins.”
With the win, Real Madrid topped the group with seven points and will now face Juventus in the knockout stage.
Earlier in the evening in Nashville, Al-Hilal secured a 2–0 win over Mexico’s Pachuca, a result that ensured a second-place finish in the group and qualification to the next round, where they will face Manchester City.
Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, finishing off a well-weighted pass from Nasser Al-Dawsari with a calm strike inside the box. The Saudi side remained compact and disciplined for the remainder of the match, effectively shutting down Pachuca’s attacking efforts.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly were instrumental in maintaining the clean sheet, while midfielder Rúben Neves played a vital role in transition.
Al-Hilal sealed the result deep into added time when Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo latched onto a counter-attack and calmly rounded the goalkeeper to make it 2–0.
Head coach Simone Inzaghi hailed the team’s performance: “We showed character, discipline, and belief. Competing among the best clubs in the world is no easy task, and now we face another giant in Manchester City.”
