A file photo of Al-Hilal players celebrating.

RIYADH, July 21: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced that it has received an official letter from Al-Hilal Club, confirming the withdrawal of the club’s first football team from the 2025/2026 Saudi Super Cup, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23, 2025.

In light of this development, the SAFF will move forward with the necessary actions by the competition’s rules and regulations, through the appropriate committees. The Competitions Committee will oversee the completion of all related procedures, ensuring the continued implementation of the tournament’s framework.

The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the approved statutes and safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders, in line with the values outlined by its General Assembly.

In an official statement released, Al-Hilal explained that the decision was made to prioritize player safety, especially for its international players who are expected to join the Saudi national team’s training camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs in October.

The club emphasized that the withdrawal comes in response to exceptional circumstances and reflects a desire to avoid overburdening players during a critical phase of the season. Al-Hilal further stated:

“We have called for a review of alternative solutions that can support the tournament’s organization and fulfill its marketing and promotional goals in Hong Kong, while recognizing the team's current challenges.”