Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were held to a goalless draw by Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the opening match of FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup on Saturday. The game, played in front of a lively 60,927 crowd at Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium, offered drama and intensity—despite the lack of goals.
Messi came closest to sealing a fairytale ending in stoppage time with a trademark curling strike from the edge of the box, only to be denied by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who tipped the ball onto the crossbar.
Al Ahly, backed by over 10,000 vocal supporters, had their own chance to grab the lead in the first half. Trezeguet, the Egyptian international, won a penalty but saw his low shot saved by Inter Miami’s Argentine keeper Oscar Ustari. The Egyptians also had another late scare when El Shenawy brilliantly kept out a header from Maxi Falcon in the final seconds.
Despite early fears of low turnout, the venue—home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins—was almost full at kick-off. Thousands of Al Ahly fans arrived early, bringing colour, chants, and energy to the atmosphere, reminiscent of a match in Cairo.
Al Ahly dominated much of the first half, with Emam Ashour and Palestine international Wessam Abou Ali coming close. Abou Ali even found the net, only for the effort to be ruled offside. Meanwhile, Messi showed flashes of brilliance in the second half, including a free-kick that skimmed the post.
Both teams had reason to be optimistic. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said, “In the second half, we showed we can go toe-to-toe with any side. That’s the version of ourselves we need to keep showing.”
Al Ahly coach Jose Riveiro, leading the team for the first time, felt they missed an opportunity. “We had chances to put the game beyond reach early,” he said, though he praised the fans: “It felt like Cairo. For a coach’s first game, that kind of support is unbelievable.”
Inter Miami next face Porto in Atlanta on Thursday, while Al Ahly will look to build on their strong showing in their second group match.
