Manchester City's quest for global dominance suffered a shocking setback as they were eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup after a 4-3 extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal. The Saudi Arabian side, managed by Jorge Jesus, displayed remarkable resilience and tactical prowess to overcome the English champions in a thrilling Round of 16 match at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The match was an emotional rollercoaster, filled with dramatic twists and turns. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring for City in the 9th minute, tapping home after a VAR check and lengthy protests from Al-Hilal. However, Al-Hilal responded with two goals in the first seven minutes of the second half, courtesy of Marcos Leonardo and Malcom. Leonardo capitalized on a loose ball in the box to head home the equalizer, and Malcom followed up with a composed finish past Ederson. Erling Haaland quickly equalized for City, sending the game into extra time.

In extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly's header put Al-Hilal ahead once more, but Phil Foden responded with his 100th goal for City, leveling the score again. However, Marcos Leonardo struck again in the 112th minute, securing a famous victory for Al-Hilal.

City's manager, Pep Guardiola, acknowledged the commitment of his players and staff but lamented the missed opportunities. He said, "We allowed them to create transitions but we created a lot and in general we were good...We made a lot of actions and Bounou made incredible saves. Nothing else to say". Despite the loss, Guardiola highlighted positive aspects, noting the team's chemistry and performance levels during the tournament.

Al-Hilal's victory was a testament to their team spirit and tactical execution. With stars like Malcom, Rúben Neves, and Koulibaly, they proved their ability to compete with and defeat Europe's elite. Marcos Leonardo's brace earned him the Player of the Match award. Al-Hilal will now face Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense in the quarterfinals.

The defeat marks the end of a season without international silverware for Manchester City. The loss adds to a troubling run for City, who also lost the FA Cup Final and were knocked out in the Champions League semifinals this season. The "Cityzens weren't clinical enough in attack, and far too easily exploited on the break, and were deservedly sent home".

Former England international Andros Townsend described City as "shellshocked" after the final whistle. The result is a major disappointment for Manchester City, who entered the tournament as heavy favorites after winning the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League.