The much-anticipated opening clash of the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup ended in a stalemate in the early hours of today as Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami failed to break down a resolute Al Ahly side in a 0-0 draw at the Hard Rock Stadium.
In front of a raucous crowd of 60,927 fans, both teams struggled to find the net in a game filled with drama, missed chances, and flashes of brilliance from the Club World Cup’s top stars.
The result leaves Group A wide open ahead of Inter Miami’s next game against FC Porto and Al Ahly’s showdown with Brazilian side Palmeiras.
Missed Chances and Near Misses
Al Ahly had the best opportunity to take the lead in the first half when Trezeguet saw his 43rd-minute penalty brilliantly saved by Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
The Egyptians had earlier seen a goal ruled out for offside and forced Ustari into several key saves to keep the scores level.
Inter Miami grew into the game after a shaky start, with Messi orchestrating most of their attacking play. His best moment came in the dying seconds of the match, when his curling effort was deflected onto the crossbar, leaving fans gasping in frustration.
Mascherano: “Much Better in the Second Half”
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano admitted his side struggled early on but praised their improvement after the break.
“I think [we’re] happy with the performance, much better in the second half,” Mascherano told DAZN. “We created chances, we controlled the game. Maybe in the first half we were too nervous, but we told the players to stay calm, keep possession, and attack more intelligently.”
Electrifying Atmosphere Defies Doubts
Despite early skepticism over the appeal of the expanded 32-team tournament, fans turned out in impressive numbers, nearly filling the 65,000-capacity venue in Miami.
Al Ahly, backed by a massive contingent of vocal supporters, made their presence felt throughout the game, and similar scenes are expected when they face Palmeiras in New York.
What’s Next?
Inter Miami will now travel to Atlanta for their next group game against Portuguese giants FC Porto on Thursday, while Al Ahly head to New York for a high-stakes encounter with Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras.
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