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USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Inter Miami vs Al Ahly in FIFA Club World Cup: How to watch Lionel Messi play tonight
Inter Miami vs Al Ahly in FIFA Club World Cup: How to watch Lionel Messi play tonight Show Caption Hide Caption lionel-messi-fifa-club-world-cup-michelob-ultra-TV-commercial Soccer superstar Lionel Messi appears in a new Michelob Ultra TV commercia for the FIFA Club World Cup. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The FIFA Club World Cup begins Saturday night with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from Major League Soccer in action against Egyptian Premier League champions Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium. Messi is healthy and expected to play, but his status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its lineup about an hour before the match. Don't expect Messi – the Argentine World Cup champion, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and soccer's biggest star – to miss this one. The Club World Cup will be soccer's biggest stage this summer in the United States, and a precursor to next year's World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Here's everything you need to know about tonight's match, and stay tuned here for live updates from the Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy match from USA TODAY Sports: What time is Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly Club World Cup match? The match begins at 8 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. How to watch Inter Miami vs. Ahly in Club World Cup? The match will be broadcast on TBS in English and TUDN in Spanish, and available to live stream on DAZN. Is Messi playing tonight in Club World Cup? Messi is expected to play, but his status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup before the match. Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly betting odds Latest odds according to BetMGM: Spread: Al Ahly +230, Inter Miami +110, Tie +260 Al Ahly +230, Inter Miami +110, Tie +260 Over/under: 2.5 goals Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly prediction Inter Miami 2, Al Ahly 1: This feels like a night and stage where Lionel Messi will shine the brightest. Messi scores a goal, Luis Suarez will score the other as Inter Miami beats Al Ahly in the first match of the tournament. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter for USA TODAY Sports What to know about Inter Miami in Club World Cup Inter Miami and its former Barcelona stars in Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba (who won't play due to hamstring injury) enter the Club World Cup as a bit of an underdog despite being favored to win vs. Al Ahly. Under new coach Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami started this season unbeaten in its first 14 matches across all competitions (11 wins and three draws) but hit a major slump toward the end of April. Inter Miami was bounced by the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-1 on aggregate score in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Since April 24, Inter Miami has played 10 matches – it has lost five with two draws. It was outscored 23-15 in the first eight matches, before outscoring CF Montreal and Columbus Crew 9-3 in two wins before the Club World Cup. What to know about Al Ahly in Club World Cup Al Alhy is regarded as one of the best teams in Africa. It has won 26 continental titles and 45 Egyptian Premiere League titles – including 16 of the last 20. It has played in the Club World Cup nine times and finished in third place in 2006, 2020, 2021 and 2023. However, the Inter Miami match will be the first for Al Ahly's José Riveiro, who was announced as the club's new coach on May 29. When is Messi's birthday? Messi will turn 38 years old on June 24 – which is one day after Inter Miami completes its group stage matches in the Club World Cup. Messi will turn 39 during FIFA World Cup 2026, which he has not yet declared to play in for defending champion Argentina. Will ICE or Border Patrol be at Club World Cup? The presence of federal law enforcement officers, including those from U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is relatively common at major sporting events, which often carry special designations that prompt more rigorous security. There are concerns that CBP and ICE will go beyond their traditional security roles at the Club World Cup. What is FIFA Club World Cup? The Club World Cup features 32 of the best soccer teams from across the world, split into eight groups of four teams each. European powerhouses like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will be taking on winners of previous competitions across CONCACAF, Africa, Asia and South America. What is the Club World Cup schedule? After Inter Miami-Al Ahly Club World Cup opener, four matches will be played across the country on Sunday. Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, Noon ET (Cincinnati) Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, Noon ET (Cincinnati) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Group A: SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group B: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, 10 p.m. ET (Seattle) Here's more on the Club World Cup groups, group stage schedule, and the full tournament schedule.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
FIFA Club World Cup raises questions, curiosity before tournament begins in June
FIFA Club World Cup raises questions, curiosity before tournament begins in June Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA Club World Cup will set stage for big things in United States The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take the global stage and two legendary managers explain how it will have an impact on fans and the 2026 World Cup. Sports Seriously Soccer fans around the world will tune into next month's FIFA Club World Cup, and might wonder: What's the fuss all about? Well, 32 of the best clubs worldwide will compete in the tournament hosted by the United States with a $1 billion prize pool on the line. You read that right: billion. The Club World Cup continues a three-year run of the soccer world descending on the U.S., following last summer's Copa America and ahead of the 2026 World Cup. It begins June 14 with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on center stage in the tournament opener against Egyptian club Al Alhy at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. In the mix are Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid from Spain, Manchester City and Chelsea from England, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund from Germany, Inter Milan and Juventus from Italy, Paris Saint-Germain and other standouts from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. "So, everybody is kind of curious," said Jürgen Klinsmann, the former U.S. men's national team coach now working with FIFA's Technical Study Group, which studies trends and analytics during tournaments. 'Everybody is kind of thinking, 'Okay, is this a good thing? Is that a bad thing? You know, is it good for players? Is it bad for players? The timing of the tournament? You know the different schedules of the teams around the world. … There are so many questions to it. I think it kind of raises far more curiosity, for every football fan to see: 'Okay, how does this work? How does this function?' And, and I think it will be pretty cool.' The Group Stage will last until June 26, and the knockout stage begins June 28. The July 8 and 9 semifinals and the July 13 final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East, Rutherford, New Jersey — site of the 2026 World Cup final. More: FIFA Club World Cup match schedule: When Messi, Real Madrid, Man City and more will play Los Angeles FC could join Messi's Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders as the only Major League Soccer clubs in the tournament. LAFC will play Mexican powerhouse Club America May 31 to determine the final club to participate. However, there is some trepidation before the tournament begins. The tournament has created a congested calendar for players, who typically enter the offseason at this time of year after their respective league seasons. Some participating players, like Messi, will also suit up for World Cup qualifiers with their respective national teams in the two weeks before the Club World Cup begins. "They probably would love to go to the Bahamas or somewhere instead, on vacation, but it's a chance to win a very, very prestigious trophy," Klinsmann said. 'Maybe it's not as prestigious today by the name of it, but if you continue the tradition to play this tournament every year before a World Cup, it will become a big, big name in 10,15, 20 years from now. And, obviously, there's a lot of money as well at stake, so it makes it even more attractive to all the clubs to do well.' The $1 billion prize pool consists of $475 million disbursed based on performance, and $525 million given to participating teams by FIFA. The winner will take home at least $125 million. Victories during each stage of the tournament will drive up the possible earnings. MLS clubs will make at least $9.5 million, while clubs in South America will earn $15.21 million and clubs from Europe will earn anywhere from $12.81 million to $38.19 million – just for participating. Victories in the group stage will amount to $2 million, while draws will earn $1 million. Round-of-16 winners earn $7.5 million, quarterfinal winners earn $13.125 million, semifinalists will earn $21 million. The runner-up will earn $30 million and the Club World Cup champion will win $40 million. As much as money is a factor, FIFA says history and future bragging rights are at stake. Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan could finish their years with a Club World Cup title after they meet in the Champions League final May 31. Real Madrid could end its year with a title after succumbing to Barcelona in La Liga. Maybe even Messi and Inter Miami can make some noise if they make it out of the group stage despite their slump of five losses in the last seven matches. "We all remember who won the first World Cup in 1930, and that was Uruguay. I would be, as a player, very much focused on winning the first real Club World Cup in 2025 and to make history," FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger told USA TODAY Sports. 'For some clubs who have been less successful during the season, it's a way for them to come out with a great win and make of their season a triumph."
