Kenley Ward
Dailysports's expert
On Sunday, June 15, in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami will face Al-Ahly. Here's my betting take on the outcome of this clash.
Key facts and head-to-head history
- This will be the very first match in the history of the revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
- Al-Ahly is set to make its tenth appearance at the Club World Cup.
- Inter Miami has never played at a Club World Cup before.
- This is the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
Match preview
Al-Ahly stands as Africa's most decorated club. When it comes to the continent's hopes in this tournament, Al-Ahly is undoubtedly the most promising African contender. Thanks to their wealth of experience, Al-Ahly can legitimately target a place in the knockout stage, where Palmeiras and Porto also await.
In the recently concluded season, Al-Ahly clinched their 45th Egyptian league title—a record unmatched by any other club. However, it was a hard-fought triumph, with the "Red Devils" edging out Pyramids by just two points. In the CAF Champions League, Al-Ahly reached the semifinals but were knocked out by Mamelodi Sundowns.
This match against Inter Miami will mark José Riveiro's debut as Al-Ahly's head coach. The Spaniard previously enjoyed a successful stint with Orlando Pirates.
As for Inter Miami, they're the hosts of this year's tournament. The only reason the "Herons" are in the Club World Cup is that it's being held in the USA—they earned the host nation's slot after winning last season's MLS regular season.
However, this campaign hasn't been as smooth for David Beckham's club. After 16 matches, Inter Miami sits third in the MLS Eastern Conference. A string of poor results had put head coach Javier Mascherano's future in doubt, but recently, the team has managed to steady the ship.
Of course, the iconic Lionel Messi remains the heartbeat of this squad, and this is likely to be the last major club tournament of his illustrious career.
Probable lineups
- Al-Ahly: El-Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, El-Aash, El-Debes; Reda, Attia; Bencharki, Ashour, Trezeguet; Abu Ali
- Inter Miami: Ustari; Weigandt, Falcón, Martinez, Allen; Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suárez
Al-Ahly vs Inter Miami prediction
Inter Miami boasts a number of top individual talents, but in terms of team cohesion, Al-Ahly look stronger. My pick: the Egyptians won't lose this match.
