4Aces, inspired by Reed and Warner, top both leaderboards at LIV Golf Dallas
CARROLLTON: Teammates Patrick Reed and Harold Varner III fed off each other to lead the way during Friday’s first round of LIV Golf Dallas presented by Aramco.
Al-Hilal Sport News
Not even Saudi Arabia or FIFA could get Cristiano Ronaldo to the Club World Cup
MIAMI GARDENS: In the end, not even Saudi Arabia or Gianni Infantino could engineer a way to get Cristiano Ronaldo to the Club World Cup. FIFA president Infantino certainly tried — last month making a public appeal ahead of the tournament. “If any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup ...,” he teased during an interview with YouTuber iShowSpeed. Ronaldo’s contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr was due to expire and FIFA’s decision to create a specially-made mini transfer window for its newest competition meant the path was clear for the Real Madrid great to sign a short-term deal with a new team just in time to take part. Given his connection to Saudi Arabia, where he was the face of the oil-rich kingdom’s spectacular drive to sign some of soccer’s biggest stars in recent years, rumors began to circulate about a move to Al Hilal — the country’s most successful team and its sole representative at the Club World Cup. The problem was that Al Hilal and Al-Nassr are cross-city rivals in Riyadh. And even if Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund majority owns both teams — along with others — that was a step too far. “As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognize he is, it’s certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you,” Al Hilal chief executive Esteve Calzada told the BBC.
Al-Ain ‘honored and proud’ to represent UAE at Club World Cup against Juventus, says Khalid Al-Hashemi
ABU DHABI: Al-Ain defender Khalid Al-Hashemi says it will be a privilege for the club’s players to take to the field at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Juventus in their opening fixture.
Al-Nassr crowned champions of Saudi Women’s Premier League with big win over Al-Taraji
RIYADH: Al-Nassr celebrated winning the 2024-25 Saudi Women’s Premier League title on Wednesday night after a thumping 6-0 win over Al-Taraji in their final match of the season in Riyadh.
Rating Saudi clubs’ chances in AFC Champions League Elite playoffs
AUSTRALIA: All roads lead to Jeddah this week as the top eight teams of this year’s AFC Champions League Elite converge on the coastal city to determine the best club in Asia.
Bilbao edge Las Palmas to close on Champions League qualification
BARCELONA: Inaki Williams fired Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas in La Liga on Wednesday to strengthen their chances of direct qualification for next season’s Champions League. The Basque side sit fourth with five games to go, eight points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal who suffered a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo, also on Wednesday. Bilbao also have a Europa League semifinal against Manchester United to come, and should they win that they will play the final in their home stadium. Five La Liga sides qualify for the Champions League this season.
Jeddah gears up for the AFC Champions League Elite finals
JEDDAH: Football fans throughout Asia are turning their eyes to Jeddah, as the coastal city known as the Bride of the Red Sea gears up to host the AFC Champions League Elite finals from April 25 to May 3,2025. The finals feature seven highly anticipated matches taking place in a new format with all matches played in King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City. Saudi clubs secured their places in the final rounds after impressive performances in the group stage. Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each, undefeated, while Al-Nassr finished third with 17 points after just one loss. Four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia will face Gwangju FC from South Korea. Yokohama F.
Al-Hilal win to keep in touch at the top
Al-Hilal won 2-0 at Al-Taawoun on Saturday to cut Al-Ittihad’s lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League back to four points.