Club World Cup: Egyptian Kings Prepare to Meet the Great Lionel Messi

Al Ahly vs Inter Miami

The world’s best club sides (or some of them) are about to embark on the Summer 2025 footy showcase with a host of big name teams getting it on in the USA between 14th June and July 13th.

And the tournament opens with a meeting of the Egyptian kings and one of the big shots of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference; as Club World Cup: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami is the curtain raiser for this glitzy festival of football. The cultural contrast between these two clubs could hardly be starker. Al Ahly was founded 118 years ago and has quietly dominated Egyptian football since, while Inter Miami is part owned and was founded by former England star and global celebrity, David Beckham, just seven years ago, and counts eight times Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi in its ranks.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has a chance to show that he can lead his team against some of the world’s elite while Al Ahly have just changed their manager. They finished the season with a thumping 6-0 win over Pharco to pick up a record 45^th Egyptian title and then appointed Jose Riveiro as their head coach, in time for the next challenge.

Talking Points

Red Eagles time to shine

The 2025 Club World Cup has come at a great time for Al Ahly, a club which has just won its domestic title in style and which is steeped in history. This is a whole new challenge and the appointment of new head coach Riveiro comes at a pivotal time for the club, which boast some of Africa’s best players. But while the Red Eagles have quietly gone about their business in supreme fashion, not too far away the megabucks Saudi Pro League is making one heck of a noise; and now the Egyptians have a chance to show what they can do.

Al Ahly will follow this clash up with a game against Palmeiras on the 19th and then FC Porto on the 24th; they have three mouth-watering clashes to look forward to and the world waits to see how the Egyptians shape up.

Player to watch: Wessam Abou Ali

Al Ahly’s in-form striker Abou Ali to lead their Club World Cup campaign — Al Ahly forward Wessam Abou Ali in action during their CAF Champions League tie against Mamelodi Sundowns

With four goals in the final game of the season striker Abou Ali took his tally to 28 goals from 35 appearances and he was virtually unplayable at the Cairo International Stadium, making an assist as well. He’s the man to make the Al Ahly vs Inter Miami highlights for the Egyptians. The Danish born Palestinian star is, at 26, at the peak of his powers, having started his senior career in the Danish League with Silkeborg and he has been a one goal in two striker throughout his club career while adding four goals in ten internationals. With outstanding technical skills and real tenacity Abou Ali won’t give the Miami defence much time to settle.

How will Miami measure up?

In Group A Miami will face FC Porto then Palmeiras after this clash but some of Europe’s biggest clubs will then be waiting; Real Madrid for one, and Manchester City and European Champions Paris Saint-Germain are also sniffing the lucrative prize money. This is such a young club but they are now making some huge strides under the Beckham umbrella and the club has made some stellar signings in recent years. Can they thrive on the world stage?

Player to Watch: Lionel Messi

Well that question doesn’t apply to captain Lionel Messi who, at 37 years of age, is many world fans’ choice for the Greatest of All Time, and he has bagged 31 goals in 38 games for the Herons. And he is so much more than a goal scorer, one of the best dribblers the world has ever seen and a player with superb vision and change of pace. Fans will pour into the Miami Hard Rock Stadium to see their hero and he is one of a quarter of former Barcelona players set to play a part, with Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez all in Mascherano’s squad.

History

This is the first time these two teams have met but, in terms of recent form the Egyptians have been in brilliant shape. With five wins from six Al Ahly have had a superb end to the campaign, while Inter Miami have won two, drawn two and lost two of the last six.

Al Ahly are royalty in their domestic league with 39 Egypt Cups to add to their 45 Egyptian Premier League titles; and they are 12 times CAF Champions League winners and four times winners of the African Cup Winners Cup. Even before the Egypt Premier League was founded Al Ahly won 17 Cairo League titles, so this is a club with a rich history.

In contrast, Inter Miami won the MLS for the first time last year to qualify for this Club World Cup. Now let’s take a look at the latest Al Ahly vs Inter Miami betting odds and try to pick a winner.