Al Ahly and Inter Miami will kick off the Club World Cup this weekend. Lionel Messi’s team are the representatives of the host nation, while Egyptian giants Al Ahly are a major force within African football.
Will home advantage help Inter Miami come out on top, or will this be Al Ahly’s night at the Hard Rock Stadium?
Al Ahly vs Inter Miami best bets
Al Ahly vs Inter Miami odds
Find the latest Al Ahly vs Inter Miami betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
Al Ahly vs Inter Miami predictions
The big kick-off is now just days away and opinions on the Club World Cup remain divided.
To some, the whole event is a colossal waste of time. There were already complaints about footballers playing too many games before FIFA decided to turn a mini-tournament into a full-blown one.
The Club World Cup does not have the same history and prestige as the Champions League, so we do not know for sure how seriously the European teams will take it.
There is also a danger of Europe being too dominant. A Club World Cup that lives up to its name ideally needs a few quarter-finalists from other regions. But Europe is so comparatively strong that its teams look set to outshine all others.
Yet the competition has proponents as well as detractors. Even the most cynical critic surely feels at least slightly intrigued by the prospect of games like Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors and Paris Saint-Germain vs Botafogo.
And while there has been a mixed response in Europe, the decision to expand the Club World Cup has been welcomed in virtually every other region.
The best teams from Africa, the Americas and Asia are chomping at the bit to pit their wits against the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and PSG in a competitive environment.
The event gets under way in the early hours of Sunday morning BST, as Al Ahly take on Inter Miami in Florida.
Inter Miami’s inclusion in the tournament is not without controversy. Throughout the Club World Cup’s history, there has always been a spot reserved for a team from the host nation.
This berth usually goes to the most recent domestic champions, which under the MLS’s play-off system was LA Galaxy in 2024.
Instead, Inter Miami claimed the place after winning the less-significant Supporters’ Shield, the prize given to the team which topped the table in the regular campaign.
FIFA clearly wanted Lionel Messi’s side present at their flagship club event, so they came up with a fudge large enough to please Willy Wonka.
Group A is one of the toughest to call, with each of Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly and Inter Miami capable of reaching the knockout phase.
The victor in this opening game will be in a solid position to do just that.
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Al Ahly vs Inter Miami betting tips
The Club World Cup gets under way on Sunday morning (UK time) – who will win the opening game?
Al Ahly to win
Inter Miami are the favourites to win this curtain-raising contest, but that is in part because of name recognition.
Messi is the team’s star but he also has a few former Barcelona colleagues around him: Jordi Alba at left-back, Luis Suarez up front, Sergio Busquets in midfield and Javier Mascherano in the dugout.
Al Ahly are the most successful side in African football history and the Egyptian giants will be quietly confident of spoiling the party in Miami Gardens.
Of course, this is essentially a home game for Mascherano’s men and that is a clear advantage, but it might not be enough for Inter Miami to avoid defeat.
Take advantage of generous odds on an Al Ahly victory on opening night.
⚽ Select Al Ahly to win at 9/4 with Sky Bet ⚽
Both teams to score
Inter Miami have picked up form in MLS of late, but that is thanks to a Messi-powered attack more than the team’s defensive unit.
Mascherano’s side have gone eight league games without a clean sheet. Despite being third in the Eastern Conference standings, only four teams have conceded more goals.
Al Ahly have scored 22 times in eight league games back home, so they certainly know how to make the net bulge.
Their backline will be put through its paces by Messi, Suarez and co. The Argentine alone has already scored 10 goals in the 2025 MLS campaign.
Goals at both ends is the way to go in this one.
⚽ Choose both teams to score at 4/6 with Tote ⚽
Wessam Abou Ali to score any time
The revamped Club World Cup provides lesser-known players with an opportunity to attract attention from elsewhere.
One man who could do that over the next few weeks is Wessam Abou Ali of Al Ahly. Since moving to the Egyptian club last year, the Palestine international has scored 35 goals in 56 games.
Abou Ali, who was born in Denmark, will be a thorn in the side of the Inter Miami defence on matchday one.
Messi is the obvious pick in this market, but the better value lies in backing Abou Ali.
⚽ Pick Wessaw Abou Ali to score any time at 9/5 with Ladbrokes ⚽
📺 How to watch Al Ahly vs Inter Miami
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, USA.
- Date and time: Sunday 15th June, 1am.
- How to watch: DAZN, Channel 5.
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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