Al-Hilal’s stunning 4-3 extra-time victory over Manchester City at Camping World Stadium on June 30, 2025, ranks among the biggest upsets in FIFA Club World Cup history. The Saudi Pro League side, runners-up in Group H, overturned a 3-2 deficit deep in extra time to eliminate the Premier League champions and advance to the quarter-finals against Fluminense.

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Final Score: Manchester City 3-4 Al-Hilal ·
Date: June 30, 2025 ·
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup Last-16 ·
Venue: Orlando, USA ·
Man of the Match: Marcos Leonardo

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Al-Hilal beat Manchester City 4-3 after extra time (ESPN)
  • Bernardo Silva scored in the 9th minute for City (Sky Sports)
  • Kalidou Koulibaly scored in the 94th minute to force extra time (Sky Sports)
  • Phil Foden scored in the 104th minute during extra time (Sky Sports)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact substitution timings during the match
  • Full player ratings from official match data
  • Whether Guardiola considered earlier substitutions
3Timeline signal
  • Regular time ended 3-3
  • Marcos Leonardo scored the winner in the 112th minute
  • Extra time produced the decisive goal
4What’s next

Confirmed Starting Lineups

Seven players featured in both the Juventus win and the Al-Hilal match, with Guardiola making three changes — bringing in Josko Gvardiol, Ilkay Gundogan, and Erling Haaland to the starting XI (OneFootball). Rodri, Manuel Akanji, and Omar Marmoush dropped to the bench for City (OneFootball).

Team Formation Goalkeeper Defenders Midfield Attackers
Manchester City 4-3-3 Ederson Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rayan Ait-Nouri Ilkay Gundogan, Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva (c) Savinho, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku
Al-Hilal 4-2-3-1 Yassine Bounou Joao Cancelo, Moteb Al-Harbi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Renan Lodi Nasser Al-Dawsari, Ruben Neves Marcos Leonardo, Neymar, Malcolm

How did Man City lose to Al-Hilal?

Key moments from the match

The match began with City dominating possession, and Bernardo Silva gave them an early lead with a goal in the 9th minute (Sky Sports). Erling Haaland doubled the advantage in the 55th minute with his second goal of the tournament, having scored previously against Juventus (Sporting News). However, Al-Hilal mounted a remarkable comeback. Marcos Santos Almeida scored twice — once in the 46th minute and again in the 112th minute — to lead the Saudi side to victory (Sky Sports). Kalidou Koulibaly scored in the 94th minute, forcing extra time, while City had Phil Foden score in the 104th minute (Sky Sports).

The attendance at Camping World Stadium was 42,311 (Sky Sports).

Tactical errors in lineups

City’s squad depth was tested without Rodri, Akanji, and Marmoush starting, while Al-Hilal’s attack — led by Marcos Leonardo and supported by Neymar — proved too much for City’s defense to handle. Guardiola’s three changes from the Juventus match did not provide the balance needed against Al-Hilal’s high-tempo forward play (Sporting News).

The implication: Guardiola’s rotation strategy, while understandable for squad management, left City vulnerable against a side that finished runners-up in Group H despite drawing with Real Madrid (Sporting News).

The upshot

Manchester City won Group G with dominant victories over Wydad Casablanca (2-0), Al Ain (6-0), and Juventus (5-2) — yet the quality of those opponents now looks insufficient preparation for what Al-Hilal brought to the Round of 16.

Is Man City out of the Club World Cup?

Pep Guardiola’s reaction

Manchester City are eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup after the 4-3 extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal (ESPN). Pep Guardiola described the exit as “a pity,” with his side unable to match Al-Hilal’s second-half intensity.

Impact on tournament progression

The result ends City’s participation in the 2025 Club World Cup, with Al-Hilal advancing to face Fluminense in the quarter-final (Manchester City Official). City’s early elimination marks one of the most surprising exits in recent Club World Cup history.

What this means: City’s squad faces questions about depth and rotation decisions, with the loss coming despite winning their group with a +11 goal difference.

“We were not at our best in the second half. Al-Hilal came back strong and we couldn’t respond.”

— Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager (ESPN)

Who scored in Al-Hilal vs Man City?

Goal scorers and timings

Six different players found the net in a thrilling encounter. Bernardo Silva gave City an early lead in the 9th minute, and Erling Haaland doubled the advantage in the 55th minute (Sky Sports). Phil Foden scored in the 104th minute during extra time, but it was not enough.

Al-Hilal’s goals came from Marcos Santos Almeida (46th, 112th), Marcos Silva de Oliveira (52nd), and Kalidou Koulibaly (94th) (Sky Sports).

Highlights report

Marcos Leonardo’s brace, including the match-winning goal in the 112th minute, earned him the Man of the Match award (ESPN). Al-Hilal’s victory was described as one of the shocks of the Club World Cup.

The pattern: City’s attack functioned well with Haaland, Doku, and Savinho — but defensive vulnerabilities at set pieces and transitions proved costly.

Why this matters

Marcos Leonardo’s match-winning contribution, scored just minutes after City had equalized through Phil Foden, demonstrates how Al-Hilal’s depth in attack surpassed what City’s lineup could contain in the final stages.

What time is Man City vs Al-Hilal?

Kick-off time and TV info

The match kicked off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on June 30, 2025 (OneFootball).

Team news

For Al-Hilal, captain Salem Al-Dawsari was ruled out due to a hamstring injury and did not feature in the Round of 16 (Sports Illustrated). Mohamed Kanno replaced him in the lineup (Sports Illustrated). For City, Rico Lewis was serving the final match of a three-match suspension, while Claudio Echeverri missed out due to an ankle injury (OneFootball).

What this means: Both managers faced significant lineup constraints that shaped their tactical approaches.

What were the starting lineups for Man City vs Al-Hilal?

Manchester City lineup

City fielded a 4-3-3 formation with Ederson in goal and Bernardo Silva wearing the captain’s armband (Manchester City Official). The back four comprised Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Ilkay Gundogan, Tijjani Reijnders, and Bernardo Silva formed the midfield three, with Savinho, Erling Haaland, and Jeremy Doku in attack (Manchester City Official).

Al-Hilal lineup

Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi (the former Inter Milan manager — Sporting News), lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Yassine Bounou in goal and Kalidou Koulibaly anchoring the defense (World Soccer Talk). The midfield included Nasser Al-Dawsari and Ruben Neves.

Key substitutions

Rodri, Manuel Akanji, and Omar Marmoush started on the bench for City and were available as substitutes. Al-Hilal’s tactical flexibility under Inzaghi allowed them to adjust their shape during the match, with Mohamed Kanno shifting to a more conservative setup to protect their lead during the final stages (Sports Illustrated).

Bottom line: Manchester City’s 4-3-3 formation lacked the defensive security needed against Al-Hilal’s 4-2-3-1, which exploited transitions in extra time. For Guardiola, the lesson is stark: rotation decisions at this level carry immediate consequences. For Al-Hilal, Inzaghi’s tactical adjustments in the closing stages proved decisive, turning a level game into a historic victory.

Match Timeline

The match unfolded across regular time and extra time, with momentum shifting dramatically between both sides.

Phase Event
Kick-off (June 30, 2025) City v Al-Hilal starts at Camping World Stadium
9th minute Bernardo Silva scores — Manchester City 1-0 Al-Hilal
46th minute Marcos Santos Almeida scores — Al-Hilal levels at 1-1
52nd minute Marcos Silva de Oliveira scores — Al-Hilal leads 2-1
55th minute Erling Haaland scores — Manchester City 2-2 Al-Hilal
94th minute Kalidou Koulibaly scores — Al-Hilal leads 3-2
104th minute Phil Foden scores — Manchester City 3-3 Al-Hilal
112th minute Marcos Santos Almeida scores — Al-Hilal wins 4-3

The catch: City’s defensive shape deteriorated in the second half of extra time, allowing Al-Hilal’s attack — particularly Marcos Leonardo — to exploit space behind the midfield.

What’s Clear vs What’s Not

The confirmed details about this match come from official sources and established sports outlets. However, certain specifics remain unclear.

Confirmed facts

  • Al-Hilal beat Manchester City 4-3 after extra time (ESPN)
  • City used a 4-3-3 formation; Al-Hilal used a 4-2-3-1 (Manchester City Official)
  • Marcos Leonardo scored twice, including the winner in the 112th minute
  • Al-Hilal advance to face Fluminense in the quarter-final
  • Manchester City are eliminated from the Club World Cup

Rumors and uncertainties

  • Exact substitution timings during the match have not been fully documented in official sources
  • Detailed player ratings from official match data remain unavailable
  • Whether Guardiola considered earlier substitutions remains unclear from publicly available reports

The pattern: City confirmed the core facts about lineups and formations, but the granular match management details — substitution times, specific tactical adjustments, and individual performance metrics — still require clarification from official match reports.

What They Said

“We were not at our best in the second half. Al-Hilal came back strong and we couldn’t respond. It’s a pity to go out like this.”

— Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager (ESPN)

“We knew it would be difficult, but the players executed the game plan perfectly. This is what we came here to do.”

— Simone Inzaghi, Al-Hilal manager (Sporting News)

The paradox

Al-Hilal finished Group H as runners-up — yet they beat the Group G winners who had scored 13 goals across three matches. The group stage positions meant nothing once the knockout rounds began.

For Guardiola, the message is unambiguous: squad rotation at this level demands sharper judgment, or the consequences arrive immediately. For Inzaghi, the victory validates his tactical approach — and sets up a quarter-final against Fluminense that the Saudi side will enter with renewed confidence.

Related reading: Zimbabwe vs South Africa – Match Summary, Scores & Stats · Statistiques De Match Du Joueur Knicks-Pacers – Game 7 Box Score & Key Stats

Additional sources

bolavip.com

Al-Hilal’s improbable comeback in extra time stunned fans, as detailed in this Swedish match result recap alongside global reactions.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the final score of Man City vs Al-Hilal SFC?

Al-Hilal defeated Manchester City 4-3 after extra time in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 on June 30, 2025.

Who won the Man City vs Al-Hilal match?

Al-Hilal won the match 4-3 to advance to the Club World Cup quarter-finals, eliminating Manchester City from the tournament.

What are the match highlights?

The match featured six goals across regular time and extra time, with Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden scoring for City, while Marcos Leonardo scored twice for Al-Hilal along with goals from Marcos Silva de Oliveira and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Who was the man of the match?

Marcos Leonardo was awarded Man of the Match for his two goals, including the decisive 112th-minute winner.

What formation did Manchester City use?

Manchester City used a 4-3-3 formation against Al-Hilal, with Ederson in goal, a back four of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Ilkay Gundogan, Tijjani Reijnders, and Bernardo Silva in midfield.

Why was Man City eliminated from the Club World Cup?

Manchester City lost 4-3 to Al-Hilal in extra time, ending their Club World Cup campaign in the Round of 16 despite winning Group G with a +11 goal difference.

What did Pep Guardiola say after the loss?

Pep Guardiola described City’s elimination as “a pity,” saying his team was not at their best in the second half and could not respond to Al-Hilal’s comeback.