Saudi Arabia’s Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup delivers one of its most compelling semi-finals in years this Wednesday, when Al Ahli and Al Hilal meet at Inma Stadium in a match that encapsulates everything that has made the 2025–26 season one of the most watched in the Kingdom’s football history. Kick-off is set for 10 PM Riyadh time, with coverage on Thamenia’s broadcast network.
Two Clubs, Two Title Missions
Al Ahli hold the distinction of being the most decorated club in the competition’s history with 13 titles, but their last triumph dates to 2016 — a gap they are determined to close. Under Dutch manager Matthias Jaissle, Al Ahli have been one of the most entertaining sides in Asia this season, scoring 21 goals in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage alone and finishing second behind Al Hilal in the West Region standings. Ivan Toney leads the Saudi Pro League’s scoring charts with 25 goals, and his sharp finishing alongside Riyad Mahrez’s creativity gives Al Ahli an attacking arsenal that few defences in the country can contain.
Al Hilal arrive as the side in the form of their lives. Simone Inzaghi’s team completed the Saudi Pro League stage unbeaten across 27 matches — an unprecedented run in Saudi top-flight history — and have won 13 consecutive league games. In the King’s Cup, they hold 11 titles and are chasing their first since the season before last. The duo of Karim Benzema and Malcolm operating alongside Salem Al-Dawsari gives Al Hilal a front three capable of overwhelming any defensive structure on their night.
Star-Studded Lineups Expected
For neutrals, the anticipated team sheets read like a showcase of international football’s finest. Al Hilal are expected to line up with Yassin Bounou in goal, Theo Hernandez and Kalidou Koulibaly marshalling the defence, and the midfield engine of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ruben Neves providing the platform. Al Ahli are set to counter with Eduardo Mendi between the posts, Roger Ibanez in central defence, and Frank Kessié and Valentin Atangana linking defence to attack.
The two clubs have drawn both their Roshn Pro League encounters this season, meaning neither holds a psychological edge going into Wednesday’s cup tie. The stakes are straightforward: the winner progresses to the King’s Cup final, where either Al Ittihad or Al Khulood will await — the second semi-final taking place in the same window.
Football on Eid Eve
The match falls on March 18 — the eve of the final days of Ramadan 1447H — and comes at a moment when Saudi football is riding extraordinary momentum. The national Eid Al-Fitr holiday is already underway, giving fans across the Kingdom an extended period to follow the semi-finals without the pressures of the working week. For a competition that has produced some of Saudi Arabia’s most memorable footballing moments, this edition promises to add another chapter worth remembering.
