Al Ahly comes out of Egypt having qualified after winning the CAF Champions League in 2020-21. This is the club’s 10th trip to the CWC, and fourth year in a row. Al Ahly has finished third in three of the last four tournaments.

One fan even told Spanish-language media that he sold his car to join fellow Boca fans in the Miami area, where the team will be based for a few more days. They return to play on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium against Germany's Bayern Munich in one of the more anticipated matches of the second round of group play.

Thirty-two clubs from around the world will compete in the Club World Cup, which begins Saturday night when Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami hosts Al Ahly, the champions of the Egyptian Premier League. Messi and Miami are +100 favorites on the three-way moneyline for Saturday’s curtain-raiser.

FIFA staff based in Miami wanted the 2025 Club World Cup to lean more heavily on smaller MLS stadiums, hoping FIFA would avoid empty seats and that hot-ticket events would boost revenues.

FIFA has faced criticism for the 32-team tournament, which is set to be hosted every four years, with some players raising concerns about the relentless fixture schedule.

The opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled tongiht at Hard Rock Stadium featuring Inter Miami FC and global star Lionel Messi.

Key TakeawaysThe monthlong, 32-team FIFA Club World Cup kicks off Saturday with global superstar Lionel Messi's Inter Miami CF taking on Egyptian club Al Ahly FC at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami.Despite some of the biggest clubs in world soccer taking part in the competition,

FIFA legends Marcelo, Kaká, Pepe, and Alessandro Del Piero showed up to celebrate the one year countdown to the 2026 World Cup.