The highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup begins this Saturday with a match between Inter Miami CF and Al-Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Inter Miami qualified for the Club World Cup by winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield with a league-best 74 points during the regular season.
Miami is currently in third position in the Eastern Conference standings, with 29 points after 16 games. The Herons are undefeated in their last three MLS games and are on a two-game winning streak after defeating CF Montreal 4-2 and the Columbus Crew SC 5-1.
Watch the FIFA Club World Cup live or on demand here.
Lionel Messi and co. last played on May 31, but a few players, including Messi, have been abroad on international duty in the last week or so.
Messi returned to South Florida on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s tournament opening, just hours after representing Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires the night before.
Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, met with reporters on Monday, emphasizing the significance of performing well at the Club World Cup.
“It’s a privilege that in the present day I can coach a team that’s going to take part in a competition as important as the FIFA Club World Cup,” Mascherano told reporters. “The objective is to try to compete to the best of our ability, just as we do in all competitions, knowing that it’s a top-level competition, that we’re going to face top-class teams.”
Sergio Busquets, Miami’s ace midfielder, expressed his excitement to play in front of his home crowd to start off the competition.
“I’m excited to begin in front of our fans and in our city. We understand how crucial it is to get off to a good start, and we’re up against a fantastic team that is used to competing in these events. They are a very successful African team. “It’ll be a very difficult game,” Busquets told reporters.
Al-Ahly, meanwhile, qualified for the main club competition by winning the 2023-24 CAF Champions League. The Red Devils now rank second in the Egyptian Premier League league, with 39 points after 17 games, three points behind leaders Pyramids FC.
Emam Ashour, an Al-Ahly midfielder, told FIFA.com that he and his colleagues are looking forward to taking on one of the best players in history.
“No doubt, I’m excited to face the finest player in the world. I’m convinced that we can do something worthy of our name and the Al Ahly name. Al-Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour
How to Watch Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly
All 63 Club World Cup games are accessible for free on DAZN.
DAZN has obtained exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with all 63 matches broadcast live and free to fans worldwide.
Witness Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and many other world-class players compete in the ultimate club competition.
The DAZN app allows you to watch the games on any platform, including smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming sticks, and video gaming consoles, with broadcasts accessible in 14 different languages.
Inter Miami and Al-Ahly will compete at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Hard Rock Stadium, which built in 1987 and seats over 65,000 people, is currently home to the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.
When: Saturday, June 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
Where to watch for free: DAZN.
What You Should Know About the 2025 Club World Cup.
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 of the world’s best teams, will take place in a new format in 11 venues across the United States one year before the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
The tournament will run from June 14 to July 13, 2025, with the Club World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants, as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup final for men’s national teams.
Nearly all of the clubs that will compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup have been announced, representing every region of the world. Each club met the following criteria to receive a ticket to the tournament:
Europe (12 teams): Bayern Munich (Germany), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Real Madrid (Spain), Manchester City (England), Chelsea (England), Inter Milan (Italy), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Benfica (Portugal), Porto (Portugal), FC Salzburg (Austria), Juventus (Italy), and Atletico Madrid.
South America (6): Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Botafogo.
North America (4): Monterrey (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (USA), Pachuca (Mexico), and LAFC (USA).
Asia (4): Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Ain (UAE), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
Africa has four teams: Al Ahly in Egypt, Wydad Casablanca in Morocco, Esperance de Tunis in Tunisia, and Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.
Oceania (1): Auckland City, New Zealand.
Host Nation (1): Inter Miami (USA)
Orlando will be the only host city of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 to hold matches in two distinct stadiums.
Miami, Florida: Hard Rock Stadium.
Seattle, Washington: Lumen Field.
Rose Bowl Stadium is located in Pasadena, California.
Orlando: Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium.
Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Nashville: Geodis Park
Charlotte: Bank of America Stadium.
Cincinnati: TQL Stadium.
Washington, DC: Audi Field
Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field.
New York/New Jersey: MetLife Stadium.
The competition, which runs from June 15 to July 13, will begin with a group stage, with the 32 teams divided into eight groups of four teams each. The top two finishers in each group will proceed to the knockout rounds, which begin with the Round of 16.
The elimination rounds will continue from the Round of 16 to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, with no third-place match. There will be 63 matches played:
Group Stage (48 matches—six each group)
Round of 16 – Quarterfinals
Semifinals Final
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