Inter Miami vs Al-Ahly Team News, Predicted Starting Lineups for Club World Cup Opener

The highly-anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this Saturday with a clash between Inter Miami CF and Al-Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Inter Miami earned qualification to the Club World Cup after winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield with a league-record 74 points during the regular season.

Miami currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, with 29 points through 16 games. The Herons are undefeated in their last three MLS games, and are riding a two-game winning streak after beating CF Montreal 4-2 and Columbus Crew SC 5-1.

Lionel Messi and Co. last played on May 31, although a handful of players – including Messi – have been away on international duty over the last week or so.

Messi was already back in South Florida on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s tournament opener, just hours after representing Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires on Wednesday night.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano spoke to reporters on Monday, highlighting the importance of performing well at the Club World Cup.

“It’s a privilege that in the present day I can coach a team that’s going to take part in a competition as important as the FIFA Club World Cup,” Mascherano said. “The objective is to try to compete to the best of our ability, just as we do in all competitions, knowing that it’s a top-level competition, that we’re going to face top-class teams.”

Miami star midfielder Sergio Busquets expressed how excited he is to play in front of a home crowd to kick off the tournament.

​​”I’m happy to kick off in front of our fans, in our city. We know that it’s very important to start well, and we’re facing a great team, who are used to these tournaments. They’re a very successful team from Africa. It’s going to be a very tough game,” Busquets told media.

Al-Ahly, meanwhile, qualified for the premier club competition after winning the 2023-24 CAF Champions League. The Red Devils currently sit in second in the Egyptian Premier League table on 39 points through 17 games, three points behind leaders Pyramids FC.

Al-Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour told FIFA.com that he and his teammates are looking forward to the challenge of facing one of the greatest players of all-time.

How to Watch Inter Miami vs Al-Ahly

All 63 Club World Cup games are available for free on DAZN

DAZN has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, broadcasting all 63 matches live and for free to fans worldwide.

Witness Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and plenty more of the world’s best players battle it out in the ultimate club competition.

You can watch the games via the DAZN app on any device — Smart TV, mobile, streaming stick, video game consoles — with broadcasts available in 14 languages.

• 

  Opening

  June 14, 2025

  Closing

  July 13, 2025

  Host City

  USA

  
  

Inter Miami and Al-Ahly will face off at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Hard Rock Stadium was opened in 1987, holds over 65,000 spectators and is the current home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

• When: Saturday, June 14 – 8PM ET / 5PM PT
• Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
• Where to watch for free: DAZN

Al-Ahly Predicted Lineup vs Inter Miami

Al-Ahly are led by former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet, who scored nine goals in 64 appearances for the Premier League club between 2019 and 2022.

Midfielder Emam Ashour is a player to watch, as the 27-year-old leads the Egyptian club with 19 goals in 39 games this season. Striker Wessam Abou Ali has also been pivotal in attack, pitching in 16 goals in 31 appearances.

Al-Ahly is coached by Spanish manager José Riveiro.

Al-Ahly predicted lineup (4-3-2-1): Mohamed El Shenawy (GK) – Mohamed Hany, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Karim El Debes – Amr El Solia, Emam Ashour, Marwan Ateya – Taher Mohamed, Trezeguet – Wessam Abou Ali.

Inter Miami Predicted Lineup vs Al-Ahly

Miami head coach Javier Mascherano won’t have a full-squad at his disposal for Saturday’s Club World Cup opener. The Herons will be without Jordi Alba, and are still waiting to see if Yannick Bright, David Ruiz and Drake Callender will be healthy enough to feature in the team.

Otherwise, Mascherano will have a strong midfield and forward group to work with. Veteran Sergio Busquets will patrol the middle of the park, likely joined by 20-year-old standout Benjamin Cremaschi. Winter additions Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia have sparkled for their new club so far this season, and should feature on the wings against Al-Ahly.

The superstar duo of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez should get the start as a strike partnership. The former FC Barcelona teammates have managed 23 goals between them already this season.

Inter Miami predicted lineup (4-4-2): Oscar Ustari (GK) – Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcon, Tomas Aviles, Noah Allen – Tadeo Allende, Benjamin Cremaschi, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia – Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez.

What you Need to Know About the 2025 Club World Cup

The expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature 32 of the best teams from around the world, will be held in its new format in 11 venues across the USA one year before the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

The tournament will be held from June 14 to July 13, 2025 with the Club World Cup final taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants, which will also host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final for men’s national teams.

Nearly all the clubs that will participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup have been named, hailing from every region of the world. Each club met qualifying criteria to win a ticket to the tournament:

• Europe (12): Bayern Munich (Germany), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Real Madrid (Spain), Manchester City (England), Chelsea (England), Inter Milan (Italy), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Benfica (Portugal), Porto (Portugal), FC Salzburg (Austria), Juventus (Italy), Atletico Madrid (Spain)
• South America (6): Palmeiras (Brazil), Flamengo (Brazil), Fluminense (Brazil), River Plate (Argentina), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Botafogo (Brazil)
• North America (4): Monterrey (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (USA), Pachuca (Mexico), LAFC (USA)
• Asia (4): Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
• Africa (4): Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
• Oceania (1): Auckland City (New Zealand)
• Host Nation (1): Inter Miami (USA)

Among the host cities of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Orlando will be the only one that will hold matches in two different stadiums:

• Miami, Fla.: Hard Rock Stadium
• Seattle, Wash.: Lumen Field
• Los Angeles (Pasadena, Calif.): Rose Bowl Stadium
• Orlando: Camping World Stadium AND Inter&Co Stadium
• Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Nashville: GEODIS Park
• Charlotte: Bank of America Stadium
• Cincinnati: TQL Stadium
• Washington D.C.: Audi Field
• Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field
• New York/New Jersey: MetLife Stadium

The tournament will kick off with a group stage with the 32 teams split up into eight groups of four teams each. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the knockout rounds beginning with the Round of 16.

The knockout rounds will then proceed from the Round of 16 to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final with no third-place match held. There will be a total of 63 matches played:

• Group Stage (48 matches — six per group)
• Round of 16
• Quarterfinals
• Semifinals
• Final

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