Inter Miami vs Al-Ahly: Team News & Predicted Lineups for Club World Cup Kickoff

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

Lionel Messi and his teammates last played on May 31, although a few players, including Messi, have been away on international duty recently. Messi returned to South Florida on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s opener, just hours after representing Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.

Miami star midfielder Sergio Busquets expressed excitement about playing 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 the media.

On the other hand, Al-Ahly qualified for the prestigious tournament after winning the 2023-24 CAF Champions League. The club is currently second in the Egyptian Premier League table, with 39 points from 17 games, three points behind leaders Pyramids FC. Midfielder Emam Ashour shared with FIFA.com that he and his teammates are eager for the challenge of facing one of the greatest players of all time.

How to Watch Inter Miami vs Al-Ahly
DAZN has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, offering all 63 matches live and for free to fans worldwide. Fans can watch superstars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland battle it out in the ultimate club competition. The games can be streamed through the DAZN app on any device — Smart TV, mobile, streaming stick, or video game consoles — with broadcasts available in 14 languages.

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

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

Al-Ahly Predicted Lineup vs Inter Miami

Al-Ahly is led by former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet, who scored nine goals in 64 appearances for the Premier League club from 2019 to 2022. Midfielder Emam Ashour is a player to watch, as he leads the Egyptian club with 19 goals in 39 games this season. Striker Wessam Abou Ali has also been crucial in attack, contributing 16 goals in 31 appearances. The team 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

Javier Mascherano’s Inter Miami won’t have a full squad at his disposal for Saturday’s opener. The Herons will be without Jordi Alba and are still waiting to see if Yannick Bright, David Ruiz, and Drake Callender will be fit to play. However, Mascherano has a strong midfield and forward group to work with. Veteran Sergio Busquets will anchor the midfield, likely joined by 20-year-old standout Benjamin Cremaschi. Winter signings Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia have impressed this season and are expected to feature on the wings against Al-Ahly. The superstar duo of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez should lead the attack. Together, they have already netted 23 goals 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 will showcase 32 of the best teams from across the globe in its new format, taking place in 11 venues throughout the USA, just one year before the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.