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
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)
Group B: 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)
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.