Matchup: Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly
Event: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA
Date/Time: Saturday, June 14 – 8 PM (00:00 GMT, June 15)
Coverage Details: Tune in for our pre-match coverage starting at 6 PM (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.
The reimagined FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this Saturday, featuring an exciting opener between two football heavyweights.
Inter Miami, led by global superstar Lionel Messi, will face the illustrious Egyptian team, Al Ahly, known as the most successful club in football history.
Join Al Jazeera as we analyze this inaugural clash of the month-long tournament.
How Did Inter Miami Qualify for the Club World Cup?
Inter Miami secured their spot by accumulating the highest points in the 2023 Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, surpassing LA Galaxy, who claimed the MLS Cup.
FIFA confirmed their qualification in October after Miami set a new regular season points record with a decisive 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution, bringing their total to 74 points, one more than the previous high achieved by New England in 2021.
How Did Al Ahly Qualify for the Club World Cup?
Al Ahly qualified by winning the CAF Champions League two seasons ago. However, they unexpectedly lost their title last season, resulting in a coaching change from Marcel Koller to new head coach Jose Riveiro, formerly of Orlando Pirates, with this match marking his debut.
Is David Beckham Still a Co-Owner of Inter Miami?
David Beckham, the former England and Manchester United star, invested $25 million in the team in 2014, leveraging a clause from his MLS contract. Since its inception in 2020, Beckham has co-owned Inter Miami alongside business figures Jorge and Jose Mas, with Beckham remaining a prominent face of the franchise.
How Many Club World Cups Has Messi Won?
Messi has won the Club World Cup twice, lifting the trophy with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011. The team’s fortunes in this tournament will heavily depend on Messi’s form. Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano noted that Messi has maintained great fitness, playing consistently this season.
Is Al Ahly the Most Successful Club in the World?
With an astonishing tally of 155 trophies, including their recent 45th league title, Al Ahly stands as a powerhouse in football history, outpacing even Real Madrid’s 15 UEFA Champions League victories.
Who Else Is in Inter Miami and Al Ahly’s Group?
The group stage features Brazilian club Palmeiras and Portuguese powerhouse Porto, completing Group A.
Here’s a complete list of the eight groups:
- Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
- Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
- Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
- Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC
- Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
- Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD FC, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
- Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg
Match Preview
This matchup marks the inaugural encounter between these teams as representatives from Concacaf (North America) and CAF (Africa) collide.
Inter Miami Injury Updates
Coach Javier Mascherano faces challenges with injuries impacting his squad, with defenders Jordi Alba, Gonzalo Lujan, and midfielder Yannick Bright unavailable for this critical match. “We hope to have them back for the next game,” he remarked, while also noting concerns around centre-back David Martinez’s fitness.
Al Ahly Injury Updates
The Egyptian squad is in the United States for training and recently faced Pachuca in a warm-up match, which they lost in a penalty shootout. Coach Riveiro has a healthy roster, led by star striker Mahmoud Trezeguet.
What Will the Club World Cup Winner Receive?
The total prize pool for the tournament is an impressive $1 billion, with the champions set to earn up to $125 million. Approximately half of the total prize money will be shared among all participating clubs, based on various sporting and commercial factors.