For the first time in Club World Cup history, an MLS side took the field as a host nation representative — and it came against one of Africa’s most decorated clubs. Inter Miami’s June 14 debut at Hard Rock Stadium ended in a goalless draw with Al Ahly FC, neither side able to break through despite the star power on show.

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Date: June 14, 2025 ·
Final Score: Al Ahly 0-0 Inter Miami ·
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup ·
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium ·
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact attendance figures for the match
  • Detailed shot or possession statistics from the game
  • Precise positioning discrepancies between sources on several players
3Timeline signal
  • Pre-match press conference confirmed injuries (June 13)
  • Kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on June 14
  • Full-time whistle confirmed 0-0 draw
4What’s next
  • Inter Miami face FC Porto on June 19 at 3 p.m. ET
  • Final group match against Palmeiras on June 23 at 9 p.m. ET
  • Both teams now shift focus to upcoming group stage fixtures

Key details from the opening Group A fixture are summarized in the table below.

Fact Detail
Competition FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Date June 14, 2025
Score 0-0
Al Ahly GK Mohamed El-Shenawy
Inter Miami GK Óscar Ustari
Inter Miami Coach Javier Mascherano
Venue Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Inter Miami Qualification 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield (74 points)
Al Ahly African Titles 12 CAF Champions League titles
Match Format Group A, round-robin stage

Who won Al Ahly vs Inter Miami today?

Neither side claimed all three points. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, with neither team finding the net through 90 minutes of play at Hard Rock Stadium.

Bottom line: The inaugural Club World Cup fixture for the host nation produced no goals. For Inter Miami, the point keeps them in contention in Group A, while Al Ahly also escapes with a useful result against a side packed with attacking talent.

Final score details

The goalless outcome was reported by MLSSoccer.com, marking Inter Miami’s first-ever Club World Cup appearance. The result leaves both clubs with a point each heading into their remaining group matches.

Match summary

Óscar Ustari, Inter Miami’s starting goalkeeper, kept a clean sheet in the draw. Mohamed El-Shenawy did the same between the posts for Al Ahly. Neither defense was breached over the full 90 minutes.

Al Ahly vs Inter Miami lineups

Starting lineups for both clubs featured several notable names, though discrepancies between reporting outlets mean some positions remain a matter of debate across sources.

Al Ahly starting XI

According to World Soccer Talk, Al Ahly lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Mohamed El-Shenawy in goal, with Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Achraf Dari, and Ahmed Nabil Koka forming the back four. Hamdy Fathy and Marwan Attia sat in midfield, behind attacking options Eman Ashour, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, and Mahmoud Trezeguet, with Wessam Abou Ali leading the line.

Sky Sports confirmed El-Shenawy captained the side and listed H Fathi alongside the defenders, though minor spelling variations appear across outlets — a common issue when transliterating Arabic names into English.

Inter Miami starting XI

Inter Miami’s formation was reported as a 4-4-2 by World Soccer Talk: Óscar Ustari started in goal; Ian Fray, Tomás Avilés, Maximiliano Falcón, and Noah Allen comprised the defense. Tadeo Allende, Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, and Telasco Segovia operated in midfield, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez leading the attack.

BeIN Sports also listed the same core XI but with slight ordering differences in the midfield. The Sky Sports match center confirmed starters including O Ustari, I Fray, T Avilés, M Falcón, and N Allen.

Key substitutes

Sky Sports documented substitutions for both sides: Inter Miami brought on M Weigandt at the 45th minute and B Cremaschi at the 73rd. Al Ahly introduced H El Shahat in the 65th minute.

The lineup variance across sources reflects the challenges of real-time reporting; pre-tournament predictions from Sports Illustrated included Weigandt and Martínez, while the actual confirmed XI featured Fray, Avilés, and Falcón instead.

Source discrepancy note

Minor differences in player naming appear across outlets. Ahmed Nabil Koka versus Ahmed Jouka, for example, likely refers to the same player — Arabic naming conventions create legitimate variation in English-language reporting.

The upshot

For a team that scored five goals just days before the tournament, the blank return against Al Ahly shows the challenge of converting chances against a defensively organized African champion.

Where is Inter Miami vs Al Ahly?

The match took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida — approximately 15 miles north of downtown Miami.

Stadium location

Hard Rock Stadium sits in Miami Gardens and serves as Inter Miami’s home venue for major fixtures. The stadium’s selection as the host for the opening Club World Cup match gave Inter Miami a notable home advantage in Group A play.

Broadcast options

Coverage of Club World Cup fixtures is available through major sports networks, with BeIN Sports providing match reporting for US audiences. International viewers can access fixtures through FIFA’s broadcast partners.

Did Messi score vs Al Ahly?

No goals were scored by either team in the match. Lionel Messi, who started for Inter Miami, was kept off the scoresheet in the 0-0 draw.

Messi stats

Messi started the match alongside Luis Suárez in Inter Miami’s 4-4-2 formation. Both forwards saw the full 90 minutes but couldn’t find a way past Al Ahly’s defense, which included Mohamed El-Shenawy in goal.

Key moments

Inter Miami came into the fixture having just won 5-1 over Columbus Crew before the tournament, per BeIN Sports. That attacking momentum didn’t translate to goals on the Club World Cup stage.

Who is the 18 year old on Inter Miami?

The player spotlight has fallen on Dániel Pintér, a homegrown forward who signed with Inter Miami earlier in the season. The young talent represents part of the club’s investment in youth development.

Dániel Pintér profile

Pintér joined Inter Miami as a homegrown player, reflecting the club’s strategy of developing young talent alongside marquee signings. His presence on the roster adds depth as Mascherano’s side navigates a demanding Group A schedule.

Other young talents

Inter Miami’s squad features other promising youth players, though several are currently unavailable. Jordi Alba, Yannick Bright, and Gonzalo Lujan were confirmed unavailable for the Al Ahly match by head coach Javier Mascherano in his pre-match press conference on June 13.

“As for Jordi, Yannick, and Gonza (Lujan), they won’t be available for this match. Hopefully by the second game—maybe not all three—but at least two or even one of them will be back.”

— Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami Head Coach

“Messi, Suárez and Busquets lead our starting XI against Al Ahly.”

— BeIN Sports match report

Match Timeline

A chronological view of the events leading up to and following the match.

Date/Period Event
2024 season Inter Miami wins MLS Supporters’ Shield with 74 points
Pre-June 14, 2025 Inter Miami announces Club World Cup squad
Friday, June 13, 2025 Mascherano pre-match press conference confirms injuries
Saturday, June 14, 2025 Match kickoff at 8 p.m. ET — 0-0 draw
Thursday, June 19, 2025 Inter Miami vs FC Porto at 3 p.m. ET
Monday, June 23, 2025 Inter Miami vs Palmeiras at 9 p.m. ET

Confirmed facts

  • Score: 0-0 draw (MLSSoccer.com)
  • Match date: June 14, 2025 (Inter Miami CF Official)
  • Inter Miami qualified via 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield (74 points)
  • Javier Mascherano confirmed as Inter Miami head coach
  • Óscar Ustari started in goal for Inter Miami
  • Mohamed El-Shenawy started in goal for Al Ahly

What’s unclear

  • Exact match attendance figures
  • Detailed possession or shot statistics
  • Al Ahly coach name spelling (Rivero vs Riveiro)
  • Some lineup position assignments vary across sources
Why this matters

The gap between prediction and actual lineups shows how quickly pre-match reports can shift. Sports Illustrated’s predicted XI featured Weigandt and Martínez, but the actual lineup had Fray, Aviles, and Falcón — a reminder that confirmed lineups only arrive at kickoff.

Related reading: Match Preview: Inter Miami CF and Al Ahly FC meet in FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ opener · Inter Miami CF announces squad for FIFA Club World Cup 2025™

Additional sources

bolavip.com

Over 60,000 fans filled Hard Rock Stadium for the scoreless Club World Cup opener, watching Messi’s debut end in a tense tactical stalemate.

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Frequently asked questions

What were the starting lineups for Al Ahly vs Inter Miami?

Al Ahly (4-2-3-1) started Mohamed El-Shenawy in goal with Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Achraf Dari, and Ahmed Nabil Koka in defense. Inter Miami (4-4-2) started Óscar Ustari with Ian Fray, Tomás Avilés, Maximiliano Falcón, and Noah Allen behind Tadeo Allende, Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, and Telasco Segovia, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez up front.

What was the final score of Al Ahly vs Inter Miami?

The match ended 0-0. Neither team scored across 90 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025.

Where was the Al Ahly vs Inter Miami match played?

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, approximately 15 miles north of downtown Miami.

Did Lionel Messi play in the match?

Yes. Messi started and played the full 90 minutes but did not score in the 0-0 draw.

How can I watch Inter Miami FIFA Club World Cup games?

US viewers can access coverage through major sports networks including BeIN Sports. International audiences should check FIFA’s broadcast partners for their region.

What are the key stats from the game?

Óscar Ustari and Mohamed El-Shenawy both kept clean sheets. Inter Miami had won 5-1 over Columbus Crew in their previous fixture but couldn’t replicate that attacking output against Al Ahly.

Who are the young players on Inter Miami?

Dániel Pintér is a homegrown forward signed by Inter Miami. Several other young players are in the squad but were unavailable for the Al Ahly match due to injuries.

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