History Makers: how RSL sides have fared at FIFA Club World Cup | OneFootball

With the new, extended FIFA Club World Cup now under way, and Al Hilal to kick off their Group H campaign on Wednesday in a glamour encounter with Real Madrid, we're looking back at how Roshn Saudi League sides have got on in the tournament - albeit in its previous guise.

We've had three teams represent the RSL before, with each one etching their name into the history books in different ways. Can Al Hilal do so again in the United States this month?

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Al Nassr - 2000 (Brazil)

Back then known as the FIFA Club World Championship, the inaugural version of the FIFA Club World Cup comprised eight teams, with Al Nassr representing Asia.

The Riyadh side then entered the record books by making up one half of the competition’s first-ever match, taking on a Real Madrid side containing Iker Casillas, Fernando Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Redondo and Raul.

Al Nassr's Fahad Al Husseini celebrates his goal during the FIFA Club World Championship v Real Madrid at the Morumbi Stadium

The Spanish giants ran out 3-1 winners in Sao Paulo, with Raul and Nicolas Anelka among the scorers. Fahad Al Harifi had initially equalised for Al Nassr from the spot, sealing his slice of fame by netting Saudi Arabia's first goal on that stage.

Given the tournament was divided into two groups of four, Al Nassr did defeat Morocco’s Raja Casablanca 4-3 - Moussa Saib got the winner - before losing 2-0 to home team Corinthians. Ultimately, Al Nassr finished third in Group A.

Al Nassr line up to face Raja Casablanca at the FIFA Club World Championship in Sao Paulo

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Al Ittihad - 2005 (Japan)

After a five-year hiatus, the tournament returned with a slightly different model. Comprising six teams now, each a winner of their regional football confederation, the format was revised to a knockout tournament.

As back-to-back Asian champions, Al Ittihad had secured their spot, the Jeddah side kicking off the tournament in Tokyo with 1-0 win against Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the Olympic Stadium. Mohammed Noor got the game’s only goal.

Mohammed Noor scores winner for Al Ittihad v Al Ahly at 2005 FIFA Club World Cup

Al Ittihad’s chances of a place in the final ended in the last four, though, when they were beaten 3-2 at the same venue by South American champions Sao Paulo in a thrilling encounter.

However, Al Ittihad’s tournament was not yet over: they missed out narrowly on third place after conceding two late goals to Costa Rican side Saprissa in Yokohama to lose 3-2. Still, they wrote their name in the record books as the first Asian side to reach the semi-final.

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Al Hilal - 2019 (Qatar)

After 14 years without a representative, Saudi Arabia was back at the now seven-team Club World Cup thanks to Al Hilal’s AFC Champions League success less than three weeks earlier.

The Riyadh club therefore arrived in Qatar in a confident mood and entered the tournament in the second round. There, they defeated African champions Esperance de Tunis 1-0 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, with the red-hot Bafetimbi Gomis sealing his side’s progression.

Al Hilal fan favourite Bafetimbi Gomis celebrates after scoring v Monterrey at 2019 FIFA Club World Cup

However, Al Hilal could not get past a formidable Flamengo in the semi-finals, despite going a goal up through Salem Al Dawsari. The Brazilian heavyweights, fresh from their recent Copa Libertadores victory, eventually ran out 3-1 winners, with Ali Al Baylahi scoring an unfortunate own goal.

Al Hilal then lost a gripping play-off for third to Monterrey, the Mexicans winning on penalties after the match had finished 2-2 - club legend Bafetimbi Gomis sending the match to spot-kicks.

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Al Hilal - 2021 (UAE)

Back again as the No.1 side in Asia, Al Hilal travelled to the nearby Emirates only a few months after they defeated Pohang Steelers to win a record fourth continental crown.

Their superiority at Asian level immediately told, when Leonardo Jardim’s side blew away hosts Al Jazira 6-1 to book a semi-final slot. Intriguingly, Al Hilal had gone a goal down at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, but rebounded with six different scorers.

Andre Carillo celebrates scoring in Al Hilal's record win v hosts Al Jazira at 2021 FIFA Club World Cup

In the last four at the same venue, they went up against European champions Chelsea, although they were denied a repeat result by Romelu Lukaku’s first-half effort. The 1-0 win was enough to send the English Premier League outfit through to the final - and Al Hilal into the play-off for third.

Clearly running on empty after their incredible effort against Chelsea, the Riyadh club were beaten 4-0 by Egypt’s Al Ahly in the UAE capital three days later.

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Al Hilal - 2022 (Morocco)

With the 2022 AFC Champions League taking place across two seasons, and Al Hilal still the holders, they once more represented the continent in the tournament in Tangier and Rabat.

The Riyadh club cast aside poor domestic form to defeat hosts Wydad Casablanca on penalties in the second round – the match finished 1-1 thanks to Mohammed Kanno’s 94th-minute penalty – before they upset Flamengo 3-2 in the semi-final.

Salem Al Dawsari struck twice from the spot against the Copa Libertadores champions to become the highest Asian scorer in the competition’s history, with Luciano Vietto’s goal proving decisive in Tangier.

Salem Al Dawsari fired Al Hilal to history by scoring twice in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final v Flamengo

In winning, Al Hilal made history by becoming the first Saudi Arabian side to reach the final – and only the third Asian club overall.

In the showpiece against Real Madrid, Ramon Diaz’s men put in a performance full of passion and pride, but eventually lost 5-3. Karim Benzema, now captain at Al Ittihad, was among the scorers as Madrid sealed a fifth Club World Cup, while Moussa Marega and Vietto, again, netted for Al Hilal.

The Argentine did, though, win the tournament's Bronze Ball.

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Al Ittihad - 2023 (Saudi Arabia)

Then, like today, the reigning RSL champions, Al Ittihad became the first team to represent the Kingdom as hosts at the FIFA Club World Cup, which took place in their home city of Jeddah.

In the opener at a packed Alinma Stadium, the Saudi title-holders saw off Oceania champions Auckland City FC 3-0, thanks to an 11th-minute flourish towards the end of the first half. Romarinho opened the scoring, followed by N'Golo Kante and then Karim Benzema.

Karim Benzema scores for Al Ittihad v Auckland City at 2023 FIFA Club World Cup

However, Al Ittihad's tournament stalled at the very next hurdle, when they were beaten 3-1 on the same pitch by Egypt's Al Ahly. This time, it was the hosts who went three down, with Benzema grabbing a consolation in injury-time.

Treble winners Manchester City, who had former player and current Al Ahli star Riyadh Mahrez watching on, went on the lift the title for the time, defeating Brazil's Fluminense 4-0 in the final.