The opening game of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup sees Egyptian giants Al Ahly take on Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami in a Group A encounter.
Here are our preview and predictions for the game.
There’s a lot of buzz and excitement for this tournament opener as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami look to start their campaign with a victory.
The David Beckham–owned side are currently third in the MLS Eastern Conference, but they have largely had an indifferent season on the domestic front. In particular, their form has been inconsistent in the past six games. While they’ve managed emphatic victories — like the recent 4–2 and 5–1 wins against Montréal and the Columbus Crew, respectively — they’ve also suffered heavy defeats, such as the 3–0 loss to Orlando City and the 4–1 defeat to Minnesota United.
While there is no doubt that the Herons have plenty of goals in their squad, having scored 20 in their last seven games, they’re also quite open in defence, having conceded 17 goals in those seven games.
At the CWC, all eyes will undoubtedly be on the Argentine megastar Lionel Messi. He, along with his former Barcelona collaborators Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, will be expected to lead the side as they look to make a winning start to this tournament.
Their opponents, Al Ahly, are no slouches. They are Egypt’s most decorated club and recently won the Egyptian Premier League for a record 45th time. They are also one of African club football’s most consistent and successful teams, having won the CAF Champions League a record 12 times.
For Al Ahly, the CWC is a chance to bolster their image on the global stage. After years of unchallenged domination in domestic and continental competitions, a successful campaign here would not only elevate them as a club, but also place African football on a higher plane of recognition.
Al Ahly will be led by two veteran Egypt internationals — goalkeeper and skipper Mohamed El Shenawy, and forward and vice-captain Trézéguet. While they may not boast renowned names like their Floridian counterparts, they come with a strong team spirit and a clear motivation to impress on what is their first major piece of global exposure.
Score Prediction: Al Ahly 2–2 Inter Miami
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida
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