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Al-Hilal Beats Al-Ittihad 4-1 in Final of the Saudi Super Cup

Neymar (C) of Al-Hilal poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2024. (EPA)
Neymar (C) of Al-Hilal poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2024. (EPA)
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Al-Hilal Beats Al-Ittihad 4-1 in Final of the Saudi Super Cup

Neymar (C) of Al-Hilal poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2024. (EPA)
Neymar (C) of Al-Hilal poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2024. (EPA)

Al-Hilal beat Al-Ittihad 4-1 in the final of the Saudi Super Cup on Thursday to stay on course for an unprecedented four football titles this year.

The Super Cup trophy, lifted in Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, is the first of the season for the Riyadh side but is unlikely to be the last as the team is also 12 points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League with just seven games remaining.

Al-Hilal, also in the semifinals of the Asian Champions League and the Saudi King’s Cup, has extended its world record winning streak for top-tier teams to 34 consecutive games in all competitions.

Three days after defeating Al-Nassr in the semifinal, during which Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing Ali Al-Bulaihi, two goals from Brazilian winger Malcom did the damage for Al-Hilal. Salem Al-Dawsari and Nasser Al-Dawsari sealed the win with late goals.

“It was a difficult game and I am very happy to score two goals,” Malcom told Saudi television. “We are also happy to collect our first title of the season but we are chasing more trophies.”

Ittihad striker Karim Benzema, signed from Real Madrid last summer, was unable to find the net while colleague Abderrazak Hamdallah made up for missing a penalty by getting on the scoresheet.

In 2023, the Super Cup was expanded from a single game between the league champions and King’s Cup winners to include the runners-up from both competitions. It was also moved to Abu Dhabi.

Al-Hilal returns to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday to take on Al-Ain in the first leg of the Asian Champions League semifinals as it seeks a record fifth continental title.

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Saudi Arabia Lacked Necessary Strength to Implement Their Defensive Plan

Georgios Donis, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images/AFP)
Georgios Donis, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Lacked Necessary Strength to Implement Their Defensive Plan

Georgios Donis, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images/AFP)
Georgios Donis, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images/AFP)

Saudi Arabia's defensive strategy ‌fell apart as Spain dismantled their low block with ruthless efficiency, leaving coach Georgios Donis lamenting his team's lack of steel around their penalty area after Sunday's 4-0 World Cup defeat.

Spain strolled through the Group H match, breaking down the Saudi defense to move three goals ahead within the first half hour and easing their way to a comfortable victory.

“We decided to play with three center backs, so with five across the back and have a low block and to ‌do as best ‌we could possibly defensively," Donis said.

“But we ‌had ⁠to be stronger ⁠and stop the ball. There was no single reason for what didn’t go well for us, but the key is we were not strong enough around the edge of our box.”

Lamine Yamal’s 10th-minute goal was an early blow, Donis added.

“Spain scored early with excellent pace, and this affected our morale. ⁠After that, we made a lot of ‌mistakes when we had the ‌ball at our feet.

“When a game is not going well and when ‌you concede three goals very quickly, you feel insecure.

“Obviously ‌we were affected but you see that often in football. That is only natural.”

Donis insisted his defensive approach was the only way to try and stop the Spanish threat.

“We had a bad result ‌today but against one of the best teams at the World Cup and it’s very ⁠difficult for ⁠us to digest. But I’m proud of my players for what they do every day and I’ll never lose pride in my players, even after a poor result.

“We’ve already seen games at this World Cup that have ended in 6-0 or 5-1 scorelines. The most important factor for us is that we accept that we are going to be criticized but I also expect those who criticized us to be realistic.”

Saudi Arabia are left with a single point from their opening two matches and conclude their group phase fixtures against Cape Verde in Houston on Friday.

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Heat and Drinks Breaks Help Smaller Teams at World Cup, Says Scaloni

Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni (C) reacts during an MD-1 training session at the Sporting KC Training Center in Kansas City on June 21, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria. (AFP)
Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni (C) reacts during an MD-1 training session at the Sporting KC Training Center in Kansas City on June 21, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria. (AFP)
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Heat and Drinks Breaks Help Smaller Teams at World Cup, Says Scaloni

Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni (C) reacts during an MD-1 training session at the Sporting KC Training Center in Kansas City on June 21, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria. (AFP)
Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni (C) reacts during an MD-1 training session at the Sporting KC Training Center in Kansas City on June 21, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria. (AFP)

The steamy weather and hydration breaks are helping the smaller teams at the World Cup, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Sunday on the eve of the reigning champions' second game.

Argentina launched their title defense with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria.

They play Austria on Monday in Texas with the knockout rounds already in view, but Scaloni sounded a word of warning to any Argentina fans expecting it to be a walkover.

"What we see in this World Cup is that there is no such thing as an easy game," said Scaloni, who masterminded Argentina to the title in Qatar in 2022.

"(Even if) the group phase has always been historically (tricky), I would say this World Cup is a little bit more because there are more matches.

"The group phase has always been difficult to everyone, and the conditions, the heat and the match stops constantly.

"So that means that that might help the team that is theoretically weaker because they have time to recover."

Argentina were stunned 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in Qatar in the group stage, before going on to lift the title.

This is the biggest-ever World Cup, with 48 teams, and there are three-minute drinks breaks in each half of games this time.

Scaloni said that effectively divided matches into "four quarters".

The heat will at least not be a factor at the home of the Dallas Cowboys on Monday because it has a roof.

There will still be hydration breaks.

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez agreed that the World Cup in North America is tighter than in 2022.

"I believe that the play is becoming more and more level," said the Chelsea star.

"And it is also more competitive this time compared to Qatar.

"This is my opinion, maybe I am mistaken, but I believe today, many national teams are causing a surprise here."

Sports

Belgium’s Garcia Laments Wastefulness Against Iran

Rudi Garcia, head coach of Belgium reacts after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Rudi Garcia, head coach of Belgium reacts after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Belgium’s Garcia Laments Wastefulness Against Iran

Rudi Garcia, head coach of Belgium reacts after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Rudi Garcia, head coach of Belgium reacts after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia lamented his side's wastefulness after a 0-0 draw with Iran left the Group G favorites facing a final match against New Zealand to secure a place in the World Cup round of 32.

Belgium dominated possession and peppered Iran's goal on Sunday but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, who produced a string of saves to earn the Iranians a valuable point in Los Angeles.

Belgium have taken only two points from ‌their opening two ‌matches despite entering the tournament as favorites to ‌progress ⁠from the group.

"We ⁠could have won by three goals against Iran but we weren't efficient enough," Garcia told reporters. "We had many attempts and when you don't score, you don't win a match."

The 62-year-old said his side had executed their game plan as intended against an Iran team they expected to sit deep and look to strike on the counterattack.

"We dominated, so tactically ⁠and in terms of the game plan we played ‌as we wanted to play. But we ‌were wasteful and lacked efficiency," he said.

Belgium's task became even harder when ‌defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off midway through the second half ‌for hauling down Mehdi Taremi as the Iran forward broke through on goal.

Garcia described the dismissal as an understandable mistake from a young player and praised the response of the rest of the team, who continued to push for ‌a winner despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men.

"Playing 30 minutes down a man is very ⁠difficult in a ⁠World Cup," he said.

Garcia singled out Beiranvand as the key reason Belgium failed to take all three points, calling the Iranian goalkeeper the game's standout performer.

He acknowledged the start had fallen short of expectations but insisted qualification remained in his team's hands.

"Sometimes you have to win and in this situation you have to win," he said. "Obviously, I would have wished to start better but this is part of life."

Belgium face New Zealand in Vancouver on Friday, while Iran take on Egypt.

"This group is not weak," Garcia said. "We need to show we are capable of beating New Zealand and moving into the round of 32. First we need to rest, recover and get ready for this decisive match."