The opening match of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, drawing massive attention as Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami faced off against Egyptian football giants Al Ahly. Despite the anticipation and intensity, the game ended in a goalless draw — but it was far from boring.
With a crowd of over 60,000 fans in attendance — many of them vocal Al Ahly supporters — the match was packed with tension, drama, missed chances, brilliant saves, and world-class football moments.
First Half: Al Ahly Dominates Early with Fluid Attack
Inter Miami Struggles to Keep Possession
From the opening whistle, Al Ahly controlled the rhythm of the match. Their midfield trio pressed high, forced turnovers, and quickly transitioned into attack, leaving Inter Miami struggling to gain momentum. The American side, managed by Javier Mascherano, appeared disjointed and overwhelmed by Al Ahly’s pace and cohesion.
Óscar Ustari Keeps Inter Alive
Inter Miami’s goalkeeper, Óscar Ustari, was the clear standout in the first half. The 39-year-old Argentine made multiple key saves to keep his team in the game. He denied Wessam Abou Ali and Emam Ashour from close range, displaying sharp reflexes and strong positioning.
Penalty Drama Before Halftime
The breakthrough seemed inevitable when Al Ahly’s Zizo was fouled inside the box by Inter defender Telasco Segovia in the 43rd minute. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz awarded a penalty after checking with VAR.
Trezeguet, the former Aston Villa winger and now a key figure for Al Ahly, stepped up to take the kick. He aimed low to Ustari’s left, but the veteran goalkeeper guessed correctly and made a spectacular diving save. The stadium erupted — part in relief, part in disbelief — as Al Ahly missed a golden opportunity to take the lead before the break.
Second Half: Messi Leads the Comeback Charge
Inter Miami Switches Gears
After a flat first half, Inter Miami emerged from the tunnel transformed. With Messi dropping deeper to influence play and Tadeo Allende pushing forward, the MLS side began to take control. They held more possession, passed more sharply, and threatened Al Ahly’s goal more consistently.
Messi Nearly Scores Twice
Messi, who had been quiet early on, almost delivered the winning moment twice. First, he curled a left-footed free kick just wide, striking the side netting. Then in the dying minutes, he took a short corner, received the ball back on the right wing, and whipped a curling shot toward the far post. Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy managed to get his fingertips on it, deflecting the ball onto the crossbar. The stadium gasped.
El Shenawy was forced into more action moments later, saving a powerful header from Maximiliano Falcon following the resulting corner. The Egyptian keeper stood tall in the second half just as Ustari had in the first.
Tactical Insight and Bench Impact
Mascherano’s halftime talk seemed to make a difference. Inter’s defense held tighter, their midfield stopped giving the ball away cheaply, and they managed to slow down Al Ahly’s transitions. Substitutes added energy, with Fafà Picault making darting runs and Benjamin Cremaschi helping cover defensively.
Al Ahly, under their new manager José Riviera, began to show signs of fatigue. Their pressing intensity dropped, and they relied more on counterattacks, none of which resulted in goals despite several half-chances.
Post-Match Reactions
Javier Mascherano – Inter Miami Head Coach
“We improved a lot in the second half. The first 45 minutes were tough — we lost the ball in dangerous zones. But I’m happy with how we responded. We created real chances and were unlucky not to score. Óscar [Ustari] kept us alive in the first half.”
Mascherano praised both Messi and Ustari for their leadership and highlighted that the team still had a long way to go to reach full potential at this level.
José Riviera – Al Ahly Head Coach
“We had clear chances early and should’ve finished the game before halftime. I’m proud of the team, but we suffered in the second half. The fans were fantastic — it felt like Cairo in Miami — but next time, we need to reward them with a win.”
Atmosphere and Crowd Support
The atmosphere inside Hard Rock Stadium was electric. Al Ahly supporters — many of whom traveled from Egypt or live in the U.S. — created a powerful presence, chanting and waving flags. Despite Inter being the home side, the volume of Egyptian fans often overwhelmed the stadium acoustics.
Match Stats Snapshot
| Category | Inter Miami | Al Ahly |
| Possession (2nd half) | 61% | 39% |
| Total Shots | 11 | 13 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 6 |
| Saves | 6 (Ustari) | 5 (El Shenawy) |
| Key Moment | Messi shot off bar (90+2′) | Trezeguet missed penalty (43’) |
What’s Next in Group A
This was the first match in Group A of the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup format, set to continue through early July.
Upcoming Fixtures:
- Palmeiras (Brazil) vs FC Porto (Portugal) – Sunday
- Inter Miami vs FC Porto – Thursday
- Al Ahly vs Palmeiras – Thursday
Each team plays three group-stage matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
While the match ended goalless, it delivered plenty of excitement and showcased the depth of talent and competition in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Messi showed flashes of brilliance, both goalkeepers delivered heroic performances, and Al Ahly proved they could go toe-to-toe with an MLS side featuring one of the game’s greatest players.
With two crucial fixtures remaining for each team, Group A is wide open — and the next matches will be decisive in determining who advances to the Round of 16.
The Information is Collected from Fox Sports and Yahoo Sports.
