What: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, United States.
When: Saturday, June 14 – 8pm kickoff (00:00 GMT on Sunday, June 15)
How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 6pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.
The rebranded and expanded FIFA Club World Cup is set to commence on Saturday, with the opening match already generating extensive excitement among football enthusiasts.
Inter Miami, boasting the star appeal of Lionel Messi, will face off against Al Ahly, the most successful club in world football.
Al Jazeera offers an in-depth preview of the inaugural match of the month-long tournament.
How did Inter Miami qualify for the Club World Cup?
Inter Miami secured their place by amassing the most points in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) regular season, surpassing LA Galaxy, the MLS Cup winners.
In October, FIFA confirmed Miami’s participation in the Club World Cup after they set a new record of 74 points with a 6-2 victory over New England Revolution.
How did Al Ahly qualify for the Club World Cup?
Al Ahly qualified by winning the CAF (Confederation of Africa Football) Champions League two seasons ago.
They lost their continental dominance the following season and appointed Jose Riveiro as their new coach following their semifinal exit in the CAF Champions League.
Does David Beckham still co-own Inter Miami?
David Beckham, a former England and Manchester United midfielder, holds a significant stake in Inter Miami, which he co-owns with business magnates Jorge and Jose Mas.
How many Club World Cups has Messi won?
Messi is a two-time Club World Cup winner with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011. He may face his former Barcelona manager in the tournament.
Are Al Ahly the most successful club in the world?
Al Ahly boasts an impressive collection of 155 trophies, including 45 league titles, though Real Madrid’s success in European competitions sets a contrasting standard.
Who else is in Inter Miami and Al Ahly’s group?
Group A also features Brazilian club Palmeiras and Portuguese team Porto.
Here is the breakdown of the eight groups:
- Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
- Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
- Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
- Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC
- Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
- Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD FC, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
- Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg
Head-to-head comparison
This marks the first-ever encounter between the Concacaf and CAF representatives.
Inter Miami Team News
Manager Javier Mascherano is dealing with several absentees due to injuries, impacting the team’s lineup for the match.
Fullback Jordi Alba, defender Gonzalo Lujan, and midfielder Yannick Bright are all ruled out, with some players expected back for subsequent matches.
Al Ahly Team News
The Egyptian side has been in the US for a fortnight and recently played a warm-up match against Pachuca, losing 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
How much does the Club World Cup winner receive?
The Club World Cup boasts a total prize fund of $1bn, with the champions potentially earning up to $125m.
About half the budget is allocated among the teams based on performance and market criteria.
