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 (predicted):
Al Ahly (4-3-3, right to left): El Shenawi (GK) — Hany, Ibrahim, El Aash, Kouka — Attia, Ashour, Reda — Trezeguet, W. Ali, Bencharki.
Inter Miami (4-4-2, right to left): Ustari (GK) — Weigandt, Falcon, D. Martinez, Allen — Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia — Messi, Suarez.
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Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami live updates, highlights from Club World Cup
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 projected starting lineup (4-3-3): El Shenawi (GK) — Hany, Ibrahim, El Aash, Kouka — Attia, Ashour, Reda — Trezeguet, W. Ali, Bencharki.
Al Ahly subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
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 projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Ustari (GK) — Weigandt, Falcon, D. Martinez, Allen — Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia — Messi, Suarez.
Inter Miami subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
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 |
