The new FIFA Club World Cup will kick off on Saturday, June 14 with a historic match. African giants Al Ahly will take on Inter Miami, the team that will make its debut in the competition led by Argentine star Lionel Messi, in what will be the opening match of the tournament. By order of Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, from this edition onwards the participation of teams was increased to 32, so for the first time there will be knockout rounds in the group stage.
There are a total of eight groups with four teams each in direct competition, with the top two from each group advancing to the Round of 16. All confederations have participation in the Club World Cup where UEFA (Europe) has 12 teams; CONMEBOL (South America) has six, while Africa, Asia and Concacaf had four places; one more for Oceania and finally MLS had an additional place as the host country.
When and where is the opening match played?
The opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami will be played on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium, located in Miami Gardens, Florida. With a capacity of more than 65,000 spectators, this venue has hosted top-level events, including NFL games, international concerts and soon the 2026 World Cup.
What time does the game start in the USA?
These are the confirmed times for the duel in United States:
- Eastern Time (ET) – 8:00 PM
- Central (CT) – 7:00 PM
- Mountain Time (MT) – 6:00 PM
- Pacific (PT) – 5:00 PM
MLS will have three representatives in the Club World Cup
The Major League Soccer has taken a very important step in its young history, as for the first time it will be represented by three teams: Seattle Sounders (2022 Concachampions champion), Los Angeles Football Club (playoff assignment after Leon’s disqualification) and Inter Miami (invited team). Its participation surpasses that of the Liga MX, which will only be represented by two teams: Monterrey and Pachuca.
However, the favorites are the European teams, led by Paris Saint-Germain, the recent Champions League champion. However, the chances of such important teams as Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus or even Real Madrid cannot be ruled out.
Without a doubt, the current edition of the Club World Cup will be the starting point of a new era in club soccer. FIFA is looking to position this competition as a “World Cup” with a broader format, similar to that of national teams. Miami was chosen as the host city for the opening match because of its international projection and because it is one of the key cities for the 2026 World Cup. In addition, Messi’s presence at the local club has raised interest in soccer in the city and the country.
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