Al Hilal Beat Al Gharafa 2–1 in Champions League Opener

Al Hilal launched their AFC Champions League Elite 2026–2027 campaign with a 2–1 win over Qatar's Al Gharafa at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on 15 September 2026, in Round 1 of the West section league phase.

Rúben Neves put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time (45+3'), before Sergej Milinković-Savić doubled the lead in the 73rd minute. Al Gharafa pulled one back through Alaa Aladdin Hassan deep in stoppage time (90+2'), but Al Hilal held on for the three points, leaving the visitors on zero.

The match drew a recorded attendance of about 20,140 spectators at Kingdom Arena, which holds between 26,000 and 27,000 seats and sits within the King Fahd International Stadium sports complex area.

How to attend Al Hilal home matches

Tickets for Al Hilal home games, including AFC Champions League Elite fixtures, are sold through the club's official BLU Store digital platform. Standard matchday tickets start from SAR 30 for the lowest category, with higher-category and hospitality seats priced above this depending on the opponent, competition, and seat location.

Tickets are issued as e-tickets linked to the buyer's mobile number and ID, with entry at the venue via digital QR code scanning and ID checks under stadium security rules. Purchases and stadium access are managed entirely through club and venue systems; national government platforms such as أبشر, مقيم, قوى, ناجز, نفاذ, and توكلنا are not used for ticketing or entry for this competition.

The result extends Al Hilal's strong early-season form across both domestic and continental competition, offering fans in the capital an accessible way to follow top-level Asian football at home.

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