Lionel Messi will kick-start the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as the competition officially begins with Inter Miami taking on Egyptian side Al Ahly in Miami on Saturday.
The host nation’s guest invitee, who sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, is the side to get the tournament under way, automatically drawn into Group A so that they would be guaranteed to begin the competition.
Their opponents Al Ahly are coming off three straight Egyptian Premier League titles and, to qualify for this competition, three of the last four CAF Champions League crowns.
The Sporting News is following the Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami match live, providing score updates, commentary.
Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | How to watch where you are
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami score
| Score (Pregame) | Goal scorers | |
| Al Ahly | – | – |
| Inter Miami | – | – |
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRA/AUS)
Starting lineups:
Al Ahly (4-3-3, right to left, predicted): 1. El Shenawi (GK) — 30. Hany, 6. Ibrahim, 15. Dari, 36. Kouka — 13. Attia, 22. Ashour, 5. Ben Romdhane — 7. Trezeguet, 9. W. Ali, 8. Fathi.
Inter Miami (4-4-2, right to left): 19. Ustari (GK) — 17. Fray, 37. Falcon, 6. Aviles, 32. Allen — 21. Allende, 55. Redondo, 5. Busquets, 8. Segovia — 10. Messi, 9. Suarez.
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Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami live updates, highlights from Club World Cup
15 mins to kickoff: Some reports claim that Hard Rock Stadium will be 20% full for this match tonight, which would be exceedingly embarrassing for FIFA. We’ll see what the seating looks like when the game kicks off shortly!
30 mins to kickoff: This match will be critical for both teams in the hunt for a knockout stage position. If either side has any hope of reaching the Round of 16, they will need to win this game, considering the power of the other two teams in the group, Brazilian giants Palmeiras and Portuguese side Porto.
The #FIFACWC kicks off in a few hours, with Inter Miami facing Al Ahly from Egypt in Group A.
Also in the group are Palmeiras of Brazil and Portugal’s Porto.@Walid_4 previews Group A, where Palmeiras are expected to progress, and Miami’s galacticos will be watched closely.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 14, 2025
45 mins to kickoff: The Al Ahly lineup is in, and Emam Ashour is in the XI, a former youth product of the club’s arch rivals Zamalek. It’s rare for players to don the jerseys of both clubs, and Ashour will have no love from his former side.
The 27-year-old isn’t looking back, closing in on 100 appearances for Al Ahly (15 away) with 30 goals and 19 assists.
1 hour to kickoff: Starting lineups were released a few minutes late, but we have our XI for Inter Miami, and Lionel Messi starts!
1 hour 15 mins to kick: With the Club World Cup about to get under way, there will be four matches a day for the next 12 days. So much football to consume!
Let the games begin. 🗓️😍#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/P2KucitVh0
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 14, 2025
1 hour 30 mins to kick: 38-year-old Luis Suarez had a stellar first season with Inter Miami last year, bagging 20 goals in 27 league games to put him near the top of the MLS Golden Boot rankings. Unfortunately, he’s not been able to replicate that success in his sophomore season in the United States, with eight goals in 21 games across all competitions.
Still, he may be rounding back into form, having scored three goals in his last two league games heading into the Club World Cup.
🇺🇾Luis Suarez touched on his run of form this morning while focusing more on the collective:
“I’m 38. I’m not going to be getting mad because I don’t score in 2, 3, 4 games. The important thing is the team … We left in a good way after the last 2 games.”#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/OqQ9V1LP11
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) June 13, 2025
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Even as FIFA struggles to sell tickets for the Club World Cup on the whole, Lionel Messi remains a significant draw for fans of the sport. For example, those who are fans of some participating clubs may still not have been convinced to come watch the match, but with Messi involved, it provides a double incentive. Such as this Egyptian fan of Al Ahly who is also an enormous Messi fan.
⚽️ 🏆 🇪🇬 🐐 This Egyptian fan from San Antonio loves Messi, but is big Al Ahly fan, as well…thus, the divided scarf. @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #Messi𓃵 #InterMiamiCF #ClubWorldCup #AlAhly pic.twitter.com/m8UltLSpoQ
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) June 14, 2025
2 hours to kickoff: Tickets have been difficult for FIFA to sell ahead of the Club World Cup. According to a report by The Daily Mail, those who purchased tickets for this match will have their seats moved to places where they are visible to television cameras, thus giving the impression the stadium is full.
Club World Cup Group A standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | Points | W-D-L | Goal Diff. | GF-GA |
| 1. | Palmeiras | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | +0 | 0 |
| 2. | Porto | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | +0 | 0 |
| 3. | Al Ahly | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | -0 | 0 |
| 4. | Inter Miami | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | -0 | 0 |
MORE: Where are the Club World Cup teams from and how did they qualify?
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami lineups, team news
Al Ahly have bolstered their attack significantly heading into the Club World Cup. Egypt national team veteran Mahmoud Hassan, more commonly known as Trezeguet, has returned from a loan spell at Trabzonspor, while they added his international teammate Zizo on a free transfer from domestic rivals Zamalek.
All their injury concerns to end the Egyptian league season were minor, meaning head coach Jose Riveiro has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Al Ahly starting lineup (4-3-3): El Shenawi (GK) — Hany, Ibrahim, Dari, Kouka — Attia, Ashour, Ben Romdhane — Trezeguet, W. Ali, Fathi.
Al Ahly subs: Shobeir (GK), Abdelfatta, El Aash, Kamal, Ramadan, Hashem, Attiyat Allah, Dieng, Afsha, El Shahat, Zizo, El Debes, Bencharki, El Shahat, Gradisar, T. Mohamed.
While Inter Miami have built their team around Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the rest of the attack is extremely thin in supporting cast. MLS veteran Fafa Picault is back with the Herons after playing for Haiti in their two World Cup qualifiers earlier this month, skipping the Gold Cup to play in the Club World Cup.
Starting goalkeeper Drake Callender has been dealing with a hernia for months and is unlikely to participate in this competition at all after having surgery. Meanwhile, backup Oscar Ustari was mysteriously subbed off at halftime of their latest MLS match, with his status unclear, meaning it could be third-stringer Rocco Rios Novo in goal for the time being.
Versatile midfielder David Ruiz is back in training after a hamstring injury, but Jordi Alba picked up an injury in late May and has only returned to individual drills at this point. Almost certainly out are Yannick Bright and Gonzalo Lujan, who were not involved in training due to hamstring injuries.
Inter Miami starting lineup (4-4-2): Ustari (GK) — Fray, Aviles, Falcon, Allen — Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia — Messi, Suarez.
Inter Miami subs: Yarborough (GK), Rios Novo (GK), Sailor, Weigandt, B. Rodriguez, Cremaschi, Morales, Obando, Afonso, Picault.
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami live stream, TV channel, kickoff time
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Sat, Jun. 14 | 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT | TBS, TUDN, Univision | DAZN, Sling, Fubo USA, TUDN app, Univision NOW |
| Canada | Sat, Jun. 14 | 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT | — | DAZN |
| UK | Sun, Jun. 15 | 1 a.m. BST | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | Sun, Jun. 15 | 12 p.m. AEST | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now |
| India | Sun, Jun. 15 | 5:30 a.m. IST | — | DAZN, tabii |
