Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou is confident that Al Hilal are prepared to take on the world’s best teams, including Real Madrid, at the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup.
In an interview with FIFA, Bounou shared his excitement about the tournament and expressed belief in his team’s potential to make a significant impact.
Al Hilal, champions of Asia, face a challenging path in Group H, where they will compete against Real Madrid, FC Salzburg, and CF Pachuca.
However, Bounou, who has faced Real Madrid multiple times during his stints with Spanish clubs Girona and Sevilla, believes his past encounters with the team will help him approach the match with confidence.
“I’ve played against Real a lot; I have many friends in the team, and I’ve always met their fans on the streets of Spain. I’ve always had mutual respect for the club and its supporters,” he said.
“I’ve faced a lot of great teams throughout my career, and I’m privileged that Real Madrid is one of them, and it’s a great honour to do it again wearing the Al Hilal shirt,” he added.
The 2023 African Goalkeeper of the Year emphasized Al Hilal’s determination to go far in the competition.
“We at Al Hilal are honored to participate in the first edition of the Club World Cup (in its new format). We look forward to delivering a performance worthy of Al Hilal,” he stated.
The 2025 Club World Cup will be the first edition to feature an expanded format, with 32 of the world’s top clubs competing.
Bounou acknowledged the challenges of the group stage and expressed his desire to reach “a level I’ve never achieved before” as a Moroccan player on the global stage.
Reflecting on his remarkable journey at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco reached the semi-finals for the first time in history, Bounou believes the experience will be invaluable for both him and the team.
“The experience I have gained from it will be an additional factor that the team can capitalise on,” he said.
When asked if he’d like to face one of his former clubs, Wydad or Atlético Madrid, in the later rounds, Bounou laughed and replied, “Honestly, I’d rather not face them, but I hope they reach the highest levels.”
