The revamped Club World Cup kicks off this Saturday evening in Miami – Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. Italian time. Inter Miami and Al Ahly open the tournament with a truly unpredictable match. What will happen? Read the expert analysis and predictions, and discover the best odds from the top US bookmakers.

Inter Miami and Al Ahly will face off in the opening match of the 2025 Club World Cup, both determined to start this tournament on the right foot.

It is quite unlikely that either team will reach the final stages of the competition, but both will want to make their mark in this first edition of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup. Inter Miami and Al Ahly are in Group A, alongside Brazilian side Palmeiras and 2004 European champions Porto: a very competitive group, with all matches scheduled to be played on the east coast of the United States.

The team led by Javier Mascherano is one of three US representatives in the competition, alongside Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC. Al Ahly, on the other hand, earned their place in the World Cup thanks to their victory in the 2020/21 CAF Champions League (to be added to their successes in 2023 and 2024) and currently top the CAF rankings with a comfortable lead over their rivals.

We have analyzed the betting markets to bring you the best tips ahead of this highly anticipated debut: let’s take a look.

Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly, Sunday, 2:00 a.m.

Newcomers vs. experts: what will happen?

Despite some good results at the continental level in recent seasons, Inter Miami is still a complete newcomer on the international stage. Al Ahly, on the other hand, is making its tenth appearance in FIFA’s top club competition.

The Cairo-based club has finished third in four editions of the Club World Cup (2006, 2020, 2021, and 2023), proving itself time and again to be among the best teams in the world. With a wealth of experience and accustomed to pressure, Al Ahly returns to the field this year as one of the representatives of African football, joined for the first time by Wydad Casablanca, Espérance de Tunis of Tunisia, and Mamelodi Sundowns, the reigning South African champions.

The Egyptian club won its 12th CAF Champions League in 2024 and has dominated domestic football for years with a superiority that seems unassailable.

On the other side is a young but ambitious project: founded just seven years ago, Inter Miami already boasts three major trophies. After lifting the Leagues Cup in 2023, it finished top of the Eastern Conference the following year, winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 with a record MLS points tally.

The Herons were eliminated in the semifinals of the recent CONCACAF Champions Cup by the Vancouver Whitecaps, but the club now seems ready to aim higher. With a deeper squad, greater balance, and the usual talent, the conditions are in place to compete at the international level.

Will the more experienced Africans be able to use their know-how in the tournament to take all three points, or will the newcomers make the most of their home advantage? On paper, it is one of the most unpredictable matches of the first day.

Goals galore

Although it is difficult to predict the outcome of Saturday evening’s eagerly awaited match, one thing is certain: there should be no shortage of goals.

No Egyptian Premier League team scored more goals than Al Ahly during the 2024/25 campaign, netting an impressive 52 goals on their way to their 45th national title. The spotlight is particularly on Emam Ashour, one of the most prolific attacking midfielders in the squad: in 2023, he scored 28 goals in all competitions, and in the last edition of the Club World Cup, he made his mark against Al Ittihad, scoring in the 3-1 victory. It would not be surprising to see him play a decisive role on Saturday night at Miami Gardens.

On the other side, Inter Miami can count on a spectacular attack. Led by Lionel Messi and strengthened by the arrival of his longtime teammate Luis Suárez, the Herons boast the most feared offense in MLS. Last season alone, the Argentine scored over a quarter of the team’s 79 goals, confirming his status as a key player in 2025: so far, he has already scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 13 league appearances. The Uruguayan has been no less impressive, with 13 goals to his name. The partnership between the two Argentines is still working wonders, this time in Florida, and the Hard Rock Stadium crowd is hoping to see them in action.

In any case, it will not be easy for the Inter Miami duo to break through the opposition’s defense. The Egyptian champions boast the best defensive record in the league, conceding less than one goal per game: a statistic that confirms the solidity of their defense and serves as a warning to even the most experienced attackers.

Watch out for cards

Before every major tournament, FIFA often asks referees to adopt a certain disciplinary approach, which can translate into greater tolerance or a crackdown on certain behaviors. It remains to be seen what line the referees will take at this summer’s Club World Cup, but the signs suggest that we could see more than a few cards waved on Saturday night.

Despite collecting “only” 39 yellow cards in the first half of the 2025 MLS season, Inter Miami has already racked up three red cards: no other club in the US league has done worse so far. Argentine Tomás Avilés, his compatriot Oscar Ustari, and Jamaican defender Ian Fray were all sent off in the first three weekends of the season.

Al Ahly’s recent matches also offer some clues. In the last few rounds, opposing teams have received two red cards: Pyramids’ title rivals were reduced to ten men in a grueling match in early April, while Pharco FC goalkeeper Mohamed Saeed was sent off on the last day of the Egyptian Premier League.

So will we see another red card at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend?

Tip – Tomás Avilés to be booked: 2.75 at bet365, not available at Planetwin365 and 2.70 at GoldBet

Bet explanation: If Tomás Avilés of Inter Miami receives a yellow card at any point in the match, this bet wins.

Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly odds

Inter Miami: 2 at bet365, 2.10 at Planetwin365, and 2.05 at GoldBet

Draw: 3.70 on bet365, 3.60 on Planetwin365 and 3.65 on GoldBet

Al Ahly: 3.40 on bet365, 3.05 on Planetwin365 and 3.10 on GoldBet

The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.

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