Inter Miami are preparing to make their FIFA Club World Cup debut on Saturday, June 14, when they face Al Ahly in the tournament’s opening match. The two clubs share Group A in this expanded edition of the competition. While the MLS side have enjoyed global attention since the arrival of Lionel Messi, their first opponents are a historic powerhouse in African soccer.
Al Ahly hail from Egypt and are the country’s most dominant and decorated club. Domestically, the Cairo-based side have won a record 45 Egyptian Premier League titles and 39 Egypt Cup trophies, firmly establishing themselves as the most successful club in the nation’s soccer history.
The gap between Al Ahly and their closest domestic rivals, Zamalek, is wide. While Zamalek have claimed 14 league titles, Al Ahly’s 31-title advantage speaks to their sustained dominance. Since 2015, Al Ahly have only missed out on the league championship twice—in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.
Internationally, Al Ahly boast a storied track record as well. The club have captured 12 CAF Champions League titles, four African Cup Winners’ Cups, one CAF Confederation Cup, and eight CAF Super Cups. On the world stage, Al Ahly have made nine FIFA Club World Cup appearances and earned third place four times—in 2006, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Key players to watch
Al Ahly also features several notable players. Among them is Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Ahmed, who began his professional career at the club before moving to Europe, where he played for Anderlecht and spent three seasons with Aston Villa in the English Premier League.
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Another standout is striker Wessam Abou Ali, a Palestinian international born in Denmark, who has scored 35 goals and registered 10 assists in 57 appearances since joining Al Ahly.
The veteran presence of Tunisian defender Ali Maaloul provides leadership on and off the pitch. Maaloul, one of the few non-Egyptians to ever captain the club, has played in four FIFA Club World Cups, helping Al Ahly finish third in three of them.
Inter Miami’s group
Alongside Al Ahly, Inter Miami feature in Group A with Palmeiras and Porto. After kicking off the tournament against the Egyptians, they will face Porto on Thursday, June 19, before taking on Palmeiras on Monday, June 23, in what promises to be a competitive and thrilling group stage.
