FIFA confirms Al Ahly and Inter Miami to open 2025 Club World Cup

FIFA has officially announced that Al Ahly, the reigning African champions, will face Inter Miami in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Sunday, June 15, 2025, as part of the tournament’s Group 1 fixtures.

In a statement released following the draw in Miami, FIFA revealed that Group 1 also features Brazilian club Palmeiras and Portuguese giants Porto.

The inclusion of these teams sets the stage for a fiercely competitive group.

2025 Club World Cup draw results

The draw for the expanded 32-team tournament was conducted on Thursday in Miami, unveiling the group-stage pairings for the competition, which will be hosted in the United States. The draw results are as follows:

• Group 1: Palmeiras (Brazil), Porto (Portugal), Al Ahly (Egypt), Inter Miami (USA)
• Group 2: Paris Saint-Germain (France), Atlético Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Seattle Sounders (USA)
• Group 3: Bayern Munich (Germany), Auckland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Benfica (Portugal)
• Group 4: Flamengo (Brazil), Espérance (Tunisia), Chelsea (England), León (Mexico)
• Group 5: River Plate (Argentina), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Monterrey (Mexico), Inter Milan (Italy)
• Group 6: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
• Group 7: Manchester City (England), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Al Ain (UAE), Juventus (Italy)
• Group 8: Real Madrid (Spain), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

The Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami match marks the start of what promises to be a landmark tournament, with this edition being the first expanded version of the Club World Cup, featuring eight groups of four teams each.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.

Inter Miami, representing Major League Soccer, enters the tournament as hosts, while Al Ahly qualified as the CAF Champions League winners.

With both teams aiming to make a strong start, the opening match is expected to attract significant global attention.

The 2025 Club World Cup represents a new chapter for FIFA’s premier club competition, with the expanded format offering a larger platform for clubs from across the world to compete at the highest level.

Fans can expect intense battles and memorable moments as some of the biggest names in football take the stage in the United States.