Fri Jul 04 20:20:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Al Hilal Players Grapple with Grief as Club World Cup Quarterfinal Looms**

**ORLANDO, FL –** The atmosphere surrounding the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal match between Al Hilal and Fluminense has been dampened by the tragic death of Portuguese international Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. The Liverpool forward’s passing in a car accident on Thursday has deeply impacted Al Hilal players Rúben Neves and João Cancelo, both former teammates of Jota on the Portuguese national team.

Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi acknowledged the difficulty his players are facing. “We all know it’s a very sad day because of what happened to Diogo and André… Today has been a very difficult day for all of us. We tried to work in the same way but the atmosphere was different.”

Cancelo expressed his grief and condolences on social media, highlighting the devastating impact on Jota’s family.

Despite the somber mood, Al Hilal is preparing to face Fluminense in a match where the Brazilian side aims to upset the odds. Coach Renato Gaucho has dubbed his team the “ugly duckling” of the competition, acknowledging the financial disparities between Fluminense and clubs like Al Hilal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. However, he remains optimistic about his team’s chances on the pitch, emphasizing that football is decided by performance, not budget.

“We are living this magical moment with Fluminense,” Gaucho said. “We have the opportunity of playing in the semifinals among the best teams in the world… Football is decided on the pitch.”

Al Hilal and Fluminense will compete for a spot in the semifinals at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

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