Salzburg and Al Hilal play to scoreless draw at the Club World Cup, group remains up for grabs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Al Hilal dominated possession but Salzburg's defense held in a scoreless draw on Sunday that meant that Group H would come down a pair of consequential upcoming matches in the Club World Cup.

Earlier in the day, Real Madrid defeated Pachuca 3-1, eliminating the Liga MX club. But with the tie between Al Hilal and Salzburg, the group's spots in the knockout round remained up for grabs.

Salzburg will face a challenging match against Real Madrid in Philadelphia on Thursday with Kylian Mbappe likely return after missing Real Madrid’s first two matches, according to coach Xabi Alonso. Al Hilal will face Pachuca in Nashville the same day.

Al Hilal, the runners up at the 2022 Club World Cup, pressured Salzburg from the start, with nearly 62 percent possession through the first half. They took 10 shots, but had just one on target. For the game, Al Hilal had four shots on goal.

It was clear that Al Hilal was missing the finishing touch of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has missed both of the team’s Club World Cup matches with a muscle injury.

The announced attendance At Audi Field was 16,167 fans, with big swaths of the crowd clad in Al Hilal's bright blue. In the final moments, the crowd chanted for Al Hilal, urging the team to score.

Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stopped a nearly point blank shot from Salzburg’s John Mellberg early in the second half. Moments later, Salzburg goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky saved a shot by Rúben Neves from outside the box as the game grew tense.

Al Hilal has proven resilient throughout its first two matches. The club drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in its opening match with Neves converting a penalty and Bounou saving a penalty attempt at the death.

“I think it's important in these competitions not to lose. We played today against a very good team. They defended very well, they didn't give us a lot of space. So it was difficult to find a solution. I think the draw is a very good result to play the third game with options,” — Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

“We have four points after two matches and the boys are sitting in the room and they''re disappointed. I think about it differently. We played against a very strong opponent, Al Hilal, and we showed good quality, we defended very well. We did it well with all the young players,” Salzburg coach Thomas Letsch said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Red Bull Salzburg players take a drinks break during the Club World Cup Group H soccer match between Salzburg and Al Hilal in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Red Bull Salzburg players take a drinks break during the Club World Cup Group H soccer match between Salzburg and Al Hilal in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Red Bull Salzburg's Frans Kratzig, right, takes on Al-Hilal's Joao Cancelo during the Club World Cup Group H soccer match between Salzburg and Al Hilal in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Al-Hilal's Malcom reacts after missing a chance during the Club World Cup Group H soccer match between Salzburg and Al Hilal in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Al-Hilal's Mohamed Kanno, front, makes a header ahead of Red Bull Salzburg's John Mellberg during the Club World Cup Group H soccer match between Salzburg and Al Hilal in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

SYDNEY (AP) — Belinda Bencic rallied from a set down to stun No. 2-ranked Iga Świątek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to give Switzerland a surprise lead over Poland in the final of the United Cup on Sunday.

Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, who will retire at the end of this season, played Hubert Hurkacz later Sunday, with the Polish player needing to win to keep his country in the tie.

Bencic, who had won all four of her singles and four mixed doubles matches this week, came into her match against Świątek having lost her last five matches against the former No. 1-ranked player.

It looked as if that trend was going to continue as Świątek started strongly and claimed the opening set 6-3 at Ken Rosewall Arena.

But the No.11-ranked Bencic shifted the momentum by winning nine consecutive points to open the second, evening the match in a swift 33-minute set.

The decisive third set hinged on a crucial break at 2-1, where Bencic capitalized on a powerful forehand to seize control. While Swiatek fought to save two match points with consecutive aces, her effort was hampered by an uncharacteristic 36 unforced errors, compared to just 10 from Bencic.

Bencic sealed the win with a sublime backhand winner into the open court on her third match point.

“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do.’ I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”

“I think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Iga Swiatek of Poland hits a forehand to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during their final match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, right, and Iga Swiatek of Poland meet at the net after Bencic won their final match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Iga Swiatek of Poland Belinda reacts after missing a shot to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during their final match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland celebrates defeting Iga Swiatek of Poland in their final match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, left, celebrates with teammate Stan Wawrinka after defeting Iga Swiatek of Poland in their final match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)