Al-Hilal have officially been crowned champions of the 2026 Saudi King Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al-Kholood. The final, held at the iconic King Abdullah Sports City (The Radiant Jewel) in Jeddah, saw the “Blue Wave” overcome an early scare to secure their first trophy under manager Simone Inzaghi.
Match Highlights: The Comeback
Al-Kholood shocked the favorites with a lightning-fast goal in the 4th minute by Ramiro Enrique, threatening a historic upset. However, Al-Hilal’s experience shone through before the break:
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42nd Minute: Nasser Al-Dawsari leveled the score with a clinical finish.
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45th+ Minute: In the dying seconds of the first half, Theo Hernandez unleashed a thunderous long-range strike to put the leaders ahead.
Historic Significance and Inzaghi’s First Gold
This victory marks Al-Hilal’s 12th King Cup title, bringing them within just one trophy of Al-Ahli, who holds the record with 13 titles. It is also the inaugural trophy for Italian tactician Simone Inzaghi, who took charge of the club at the start of the 2026 season.
ريمونتادا هلالية 🔵
الزعيم يضيف الهدف الثاني في شباك الخلود عن طريق ثيو هيرنانديز ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6mdG5OwD9k
— ON Sport (@ONTimeSports) May 8, 2026
The Race for the Double
Al-Hilal remains on track for a domestic double. They currently sit just two points behind league leaders Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, with three matches remaining—including a highly anticipated Riyadh Derby.
