FIFA Club World Cup Picks: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami

This year marks a bold new chapter for the FIFA Club World Cup, as the tournament expands to include 32 top-tier clubs from across the globe, all vying for a record-setting $1 billion in total prize money. The revamped format echoes the scale and spectacle of the traditional FIFA World Cup, injecting fresh energy and global relevance into a competition that has often taken a backseat on the soccer calendar.

Heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain headline the field, but all eyes will be on the opening showdown between two less-heralded sides. The tournament begins tomorrow at 8 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where Inter Miami will take on Egyptian Premier League Champions Al Ahly. While I don’t expect either club to make a serious push for the title, one major factor ensures global attention: Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend alone turns this opening match into a must-see viewing, possibly marking one of his final appearances on a global club stage.

The real intrigue? Whether Messi and Inter Miami can make an early statement or Al Ahly will rise to the moment and spring an upset in front of a packed American crowd. With the stakes already sky-high and storylines taking shape, it’s the perfect time to dive into this first matchup—and build a Same Game Parlay that sets the tone for an unforgettable 2025 Club World Cup.

Al Ahly Recent Form

Al Ahly enters tomorrow night’s match as the underdog, but the Egyptian Premier League Champions will have 3 points on their mind. As winners of the 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League, the Egyptian squad is one of the best clubs in Africa. They went 8-1-1 in their final 10 league games, and although they fell in the CAF Champions League Semifinal this season, they’ll want nothing more than to play spoiler against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

Al Ahly is led by midfielders Emam Ashour (13 goals and 7 assists) and Hussein El Shahat (5 goals and 5 assists), while forwards Wessam Abou Ali (10 goals and 3 assists) and Nejc Gradišar (5 goals and 5 assists) are dangerous up front. Although it’s hard to predict how they’ll perform against competition outside Africa, it’s safe to say that the Egyptian side can threaten Inter Miami from the jump.

Inter Miami Recent Form

Unlike Al Ahly, Inter Miami is in the middle of their domestic league, as Messi and co currently sit 3rd in the Eastern Conference, tallying 29 points through 16 games (8-5-3). They haven’t performed at their level from last season, but their attack is rounding into form, as they’ve scored 12 goals in their latest three games, posting a 2-1-0 record. After being eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup in April, their sights are set on the FIFA Club World Cup and MLS Cup.

Most readers know that Inter Miami is led by Lionel Messi (10 goals and 7 assists), but Luis Suarez (5 goals and 8 assists) and Tadeo Allende (6 goals and 3 assists) are dangerous in front of goal. However, the absence of LB Jordi Albi (7 assists) is a big miss for the Herons, and their defense has been less than stellar this year.

Al Ahly vs Inter Miami Picks and Predictions

I expect tomorrow’s FIFA Club World Cup opening match to be filled with excitement, as Lionel Messi will try to impress the home crowd in Florida. However, this won’t be a walk in the park for Inter Miami, as they allowed 2.2 goals per contest in their most recent 10 matches. One thing I know for sure is that Messi will make a difference, and the Argentine has consistently put shots on target for the Herons.

The former Barcelona man has recorded 5 goals and 3 assists in Inter Miami’s previous three games, and he has 2+ shots on target in 12 of their 13 contests this season. I have no reason to believe that he won’t continue this trend against Al Ahly, and I’ll be betting on Messi to record 2+ shots on target in the inaugural match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Our Pick: Lionel Messi to Record 2+ Shots on Target