Al Hilal’s route to Saudi King’s Cup glory begins with Al Raed

Al Hilal will begin their defence of the Saudi King’s Cup against Al Raed on 17 August 2026, as Simone Inzaghi’s side seek to retain the trophy and build on what was their only success of last season.

The Saudi club enter the 2026-27 competition with the King’s Cup as their principal achievement from the previous campaign. They will now attempt to keep hold of the trophy in a tournament renowned for its unpredictable results and the possibility of major upsets.

Al Hilal have been placed in the last-32 stage, where their opening fixture will be against Al Raed. The draw will determine their opponents in each subsequent round should they progress, meaning the club’s full route to the final will not be known at the start of the competition.

The campaign is also an important part of Inzaghi’s wider task at Al Hilal. The Italian coach took charge of the team in the summer of 2025 and is aiming to restore the club’s status as one of the leading forces in Saudi football.

His ambitions extend beyond the King’s Cup. Al Hilal are targeting success in the Roshn Saudi League and the Saudi Super Cup, alongside another run at the national cup. Winning those competitions would strengthen the club’s position domestically and help recover the sense of authority associated with “The Boss” in Saudi Arabia.

The King’s Cup continues to attract considerable attention despite the intense competition for the Roshn Saudi League title. Its significance is both sporting and popular, with leading clubs competing strongly for the prize and the knockout format regularly creating unexpected outcomes.

All matches from the last-32 stage through to the final will be played as single-match ties. There will be a fresh draw after every round to decide the next set of fixtures and establish the match-ups for the teams that remain in contention.

The competition’s broadcast rights in the Middle East and North Africa are held by Thmanyah. The agreement covers the King’s Cup through to the 2030-31 season.

Supporters who want to watch the matches online can use the Thmanyah application. The information available for the tournament also says viewers outside the region can use NordVPN to follow the games, with the service promoted as offering a secure and fast internet connection.

Al Hilal’s first confirmed fixture is therefore a meeting with Al Raed on 17 August 2026. Beyond that match, their progress will depend on the round-by-round draw and their ability to navigate a competition in which one defeat ends a team’s title challenge.