Football Match: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Inter Miami versus Al Ahly

Football Match: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Inter Miami versus Al Ahly

Champing at the Bit: Inter Miami vs Al Ahly in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Prepare yourself for an explosive kickoff! The highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025, expanded to a whopping 32 teams, is upon us. Buckle up as Inter Miami, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, squares off against the mighty Al Ahly, the most victorious club in Africa, right here at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

This tournament opener is set for Saturday, June 14, with an 8pm toss and a 00:00 GMT (Sunday, June 15) start time for our European friends. Before we dive in, let's catch up on all the action from our coverage as we "build-up" starting from 6pm (16:00 GMT).

Qualifying for the Club World Cup

Miami's ticket to this global dance was earned by finishing as the top dogs in Major League Soccer (MLS)'s regular season. This enabled them to snatch the spot that was designated for LA Galaxy, the MLS Cup winners.

Al Ahly, on the other hand, qualified as CAF (African Football Confederation) Champions League champions two seasons ago. While they lost their crown as African kings last season following a semifinals loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, they're still ready to rumble.

The Mastermind Behind Miami

You might remember David Beckham as a gifted midfielder for England and Manchester United—well, he stuck around to co-own the Inter Miami franchise back in 2014. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he wields significant influence as the face of the club.

On Messi's Shoulders

If Inter Miami is to triumph, it will largely rest on Messi's oversized shoulders. With 74 points under their belt in the regular season, Inter Miami topped the MLS points chart. Their head coach, Javier Mascherano, acknowledges this as he vows to create the perfect environment for Messi to shine.

Al Ahly: A Global Powerhouse

With a record-breaking 155 trophies, Al Ahly is truly a powerhouse of football. In direct contrast, Real Madrid's 15 UEFA Champions League titles and 36 La Liga titles might appear slightly paltry in comparison.

The Final Squares Off

Palmeiras, Porto, Brazilian champions, and Portuguese powerhouses complete Group A. But let's not forget Group B with PSG and Atletico Madrid, Group C featuring Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors, and so on. In total, eight groups are competing for the ultimate glory.

Stay tuned for our coverage from 6pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport as we take you through every thrilling moment.

[1] FIFA

[2] ESPN

[3] Sports Illustrated

[4] The New York Times

1. The environment at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, promises to be electrifying as Inter Miami, under the leadership of Lionel Messi, clashes with Al Ahly, a global powerhouse in African football, in the opening match of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
2. While Inter Miami qualified for the tournament by securing the top spot in the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, Al Ahly earned their ticket as champions of the CAF Champions League two seasons ago.
3. David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, wields significant influence as the face of the club, having stuck around to co-own the franchise after his playing days.
4. If Inter Miami is to win the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, it will rely heavily on the performance of Lionel Messi, who accumulated 74 points in the MLS regular season, finishing at the top of the points chart.

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