The opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup had fans buzzing — a goalless draw between Inter Miami and Egypt’s powerhouse Al Ahly at a near‑capacity Hard Rock Stadium on June 14.
Despite the 0–0 scoreline, the game was far from dull. In a first half dominated by Al Ahly, goalkeeper Óscar Ustari proved to be Miami’s hero, pulling off a remarkable penalty save from Trézéguet and several key stops . The Egyptian side even had a goal ruled out for offside, adding to their early pressure .
Inter Miami’s response came after the break. Lionel Messi stemmed the tide, firing a free‑kick that beat the wall and found woodwork around the 60th minute, then nearly crafted a stoppage‑time winner from distance . The atmosphere was electric — more than 60,900 spectators witnessed the debut of this expanded 32‑team tournament .
Coach Javier Mascherano praised his team’s resilience and composed second half performance, while Al Ahly’s boss José Riveiro lamented missed chances despite his side’s dominance early on .
Although the scoreboard remained unchanged, the match showcased outstanding goalkeeping, tactical adjustments and Messi’s undiminished influence. Both teams claim a valuable point heading into tough upcoming fixtures: Porto and Palmeiras await in Group A, making the path to the knockout stages anything but certain.
This engaging opener sets the stage — the hunt for glory continues.
