Al Hilal Withdraws from Saudi Super Cup Due to Player Welfare Concerns
Al Hilal has officially withdrawn from the 2025 Saudi Super Cup, citing scheduling conflicts and player welfare concerns following their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
In a formal letter to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the club explained that the overlap between the Club World Cup—where Al Hilal reached the quarter-finals—and the Super Cup significantly reduced players’ annual leave, violating contractually mandated rest periods. According to regulations, players are entitled to at least 28 days off, but participation in the Super Cup would have reduced this to just 21 days.
The club also pointed to late announcements regarding the Super Cup’s location in Hong Kong and a condensed pre-season schedule as further reasons for the withdrawal, emphasizing that many players were already dealing with fatigue and had been involved in year-long competitions and national team duties.
Al Hilal expressed pride in its history with the Super Cup but stressed that the decision was made in the interest of both the club and the Saudi national team, which is preparing for key World Cup qualifiers later this year. The club called for alternative solutions to allow the tournament to proceed without compromising player health.
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