Saudi football’s domestic cup competition has produced its most compelling final in years. Al-Hilal and Al-Kholood will meet in the 2025–26 Saudi King’s Cup final following two extraordinary penalty shootout victories on Wednesday evening — a night that saw records broken, hearts tested, and the tournament’s landscape transformed.
Al-Hilal Edge Past Al-Ahli in Penalty Drama
The first semi-final at King Abdullah Sports City was a contest that refused to be settled in ordinary time. Al-Ahli drew level through Ivan Toney — the tournament’s leading scorer this season — with a penalty in the 81st minute to cancel out Theo Hernandez’s opener for Al-Hilal in the 39th. With the match level after 90 minutes and both sides unable to find a winner in extra time, the shootout became the only arbiter.
There, Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bono delivered the decisive moments, saving twice — including denying Toney from the spot. Theo Hernandez then calmly converted the winning kick to send the Riyadh club into the final, sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch and in the stands. It was a performance that underscored why Al-Hilal remain the benchmark of Saudi club football despite the fierce competition that has intensified around them this season.
Al-Kholood Make History by Toppling the Champions
The second semi-final produced arguably the bigger shock. Al-Kholood, the first foreign-owned club in the Roshn Saudi League, eliminated defending champions Al-Ittihad in an equally dramatic shootout, prevailing 5-4 on penalties after the tie finished 2-2 after extra time.
The hero was Argentine goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani, who saved Moussa Diaby’s spot-kick to end Al-Ittihad’s title defence. For Al-Kholood, the result is historic in the fullest sense — the club has never before reached a King’s Cup final, and their journey this season speaks to the transformation under way in Saudi football, where investment and ambition are reshaping the competition’s power structure.
A Final to Remember
The stage is now set for an intriguing final between Al-Hilal, one of the most decorated clubs in Saudi football history, and Al-Kholood, a side that has rewritten what is possible for a club of their stature in a single season. Few would have predicted this particular final at the start of the year, and that unpredictability is precisely what makes it so compelling. The date and venue for the showpiece are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
