Egyptian fans abuzz for Al Ahly vs. Messi, Inter Miami in Club World Cup June opener
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates have been preoccupied with the Champions Cup and MLS league games and have not yet turned their focus to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium with the tournament opening match against Egyptian club Al Ahly.
But in Cairo, other cities in Egypt and other Arab nations, Ah Ahly’s game against Inter Miami is already creating a buzz. In fact, according to Egyptian goalkeeping legend Essam El Hadary, who played for Al Ahly, the club and its fans have been fired up since the draw was released in December.
“I think the opening match will be one of the best matches that everyone’s waiting for, especially the Arabic world,” Hadary said on a phone interview this week. “I am an ex-Ahly player, based in Egypt, and I can tell you everyone is speaking about this match in the media, and posting about it, buying plane tickets. It’s occupying everyone’s minds, Ahly versus Miami, and, of course, we’ll see Messi, the best player, the goat.”
The Club World Cup is being held in 11 cities across the United States with the final scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Hard Rock Stadium will host six group stage matches and two Round of 16 games. In addition to hosting Inter Miami in the opening game against Al Ahly, Hard Rock will host matches involving high-profile clubs Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Al Hilal, Boca Juniors and Palmeiras.
Among the other teams in the tournament are Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Leon, Monterrey and Pachuca.
The top 10 markets per ticket sales so far are: United States, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, and Spain
Hadary, 52, faced Messi twice as a player, and each time was memorable. The first was an Al Ahly centenary celebration friendly against Barcelona in April 2007 in Cairo in front of 120,000 people, when Messi was just getting started with the Spanish club. The second time was when the Egyptian national team played Argentina.
“Both times it was an enormous event,” Hadary recalled. “The entire Arab world was watching. It goes without saying that 120 million plus are going to watch the opening match Al Ahly versus Miami and Messi. He’s number one around the world. Everyone wants to see that match.”
The Egyptian club is so eager to do well against Inter Miami and the rest of the Club World Cup competition that it has spent the past few months bolstering its roster.
Al Ahly was recently eliminated from the African Champions League at the semifinal stage by South African club Mamelodi Sundowns after a 1-1 draw in Cairo on Friday in the second leg, following a goalless tie in the first leg in South Africa. The club fired Swiss coach Marcel Koller after the semifinal loss and is expected to name a new coach in the coming days. Jose Gomez of Portugal is a leading candidate.
This week, Al Ahly officials finalized their fourth transfer move ahead of the Club World Cup.
According to Egyptian media, Al Ahly on Wednesday signed Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane from Hungary’s Ferencváros.
Other players who have joined Al Ahly recently include Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” from Al Rayyan, Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” on a free transfer from Zamalek, Hamdi Fathi on loan from Al Wakrah, and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane is expected to sign a four-year deal.
“There are many negotiations going on for players to join Al Ahly before the [Club World Cup] kickoff match,” Hadary said. “Al Ahly is trying to get all its ducks in a row at the moment in order to be ready.”
The Club World Cup will provide a platform for Al Ahly and other teams from the African Champions League to showcase themselves, and Hadary said they will be ready to compete.
“In Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, there is a lot at stake with the Club World Cup,” Hadary said. “I can tell you Al Ahly is not just in it for the prestige of participating. They are in it to go to the round of 16 or Round of Eight. The world will be watching.”
All tournament games will be livestreamed for free on DAZN.com
Club World Cup Miami Schedule
▪ Saturday, June 14: Al Ahly v. Inter Miami
▪ Monday, June 16: Boca Jrs. v. Benfica
▪ Wednesday, June 18: Real Madrid v. Al Hilal
▪ Friday, June 20: Bayern Munich v. Boca Jrs.
▪ Monday, June 23: Inter Miami v. Palmeiras
▪ Wednesday, June 25: Mamelodi Sundowns v. Fluminense
Round of 16:
▪ Sunday, June 29: Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up
▪ Tuesday, July 1: Group H winner vs. Group G runner-up
Club World Cup Ticket Information
Tickets are available through fifa.com/tickets, Ticketmaster.com and the secondary ticket market. The entire draw and other information are available at fifa.com
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 3:06 PM.