Al Ahly vs Inter Miami Prediction: Messi magic to mark CWC opener

The 2025 Fifa Club World Cup officially kicks off on Sunday (01:00 BST, Channel 5/DAZN) with Al Ahly and Inter Miami contesting the opening match at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Below are my Al Ahly vs Inter Miami predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, as the Egyptian giants go head-to-head with the Lionel Messi-led Americans in Group A.

Team News

Al Ahly's star men are Emam Ashour and Wessam Abou Ali, who scored 13 and 10 times, respectively, in this season's Egyptian Premier League. Midfielder Ashour picked up the Golden Boot for his efforts as the Red Devils secured a third consecutive title on the final day of the campaign.

Jose Riveiro's side have also made waves in the transfer market recently, at least in Egypt, as they completed the signing of national team star Ahmed Sayed, commonly known as 'Zizo'. The 48-cap international, who won 10 major trophies with Al Ahly's biggest rivals, Zamalek, has become the first direct high-profile transfer between the two Cairo giants in over a decade.

Football Odds

Al Ahly have made two other big additions to their squad, recruiting former Aston Villa winger Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan from Trabzonspor, and Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane from Hungarian club Ferencvaros.

Inter Miami were linked with a whole host of players ahead of the Club World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo even tipped in some quarters for a shock link-up with Messi, but the transfer window came and went without Javier Mascherano adding to his squad.

Still, the Argentine can count on the experience of former Barcelona quartet Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, as well as 38-year-old goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, while the likes of 20-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi, 22-year-old Telasco Segovia and 26-year-old Tadeo Allende will be expected to do the bulk of the running for their veteran teamates.

Alba missed the Herons' last game with a hamstring injury but is expected to recover in time to start on Sunday.

However, it remains to be seen whether Yannick Bright, Baltasar Rodriguez and David Ruiz (all hamstring), Drake Callender (groin) and Gonzalo Lujan (muscle) are fit enough to feature, having also missed their side's most recent match, although all five players have been named in the final squad.

Al Ahly vs Inter Miami Odds

Al Ahly ended the Egyptian Premier League season with six straight wins, and Riveiro's side are 12/5, or a 29.4% chance, to continue where they left off with a victory at Hard Rock Stadium. Meanwhile, Inter Miami, who went four games without a victory between May 10 - 25 before winning their last two, are 11/10 to triumph in their opening fixture, implying a 47.6% probability of success.

The draw is priced at 13/5, both teams to score at 8/13, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/11.

Messi (23/20) heads the anytime goalscorer market, followed by Suarez (13/8) and Al Ahly's Palestine international Abou Ali (9/5), who notched four times in his last club appearance before heading off to international duty and scoring in a 2-0 win against Kuwait on June 5.

First Goalscorer - Lionel Messi (MIA) @ 7/2

The stage is set for a Messi opening night goal, right?

Inter Miami's very appearance at the tournament has come under scrutiny, with many observers adamant that the rules have been bent to ensure Messi is part of the fun.

Wouldn't it be very apt, then, if it were the little magician who got this show up and running in Miami Gardens?

The Argentine arrives to the Club World Cup in terrific form for his club side, netting five goals in his last three games. He grabbed one in a 3-3 draw with Philadelphia Union on May 25 and followed that strike up with back-to-back braces in victories over CF Montreal (4-2) and Columbus Crew (5-1).

Messi has struck 15 times in 20 appearances for Inter Miami this year, notching 10 goals in 13 MLS outings and five in seven Concacaf Champions Cup contests. He's opened the scoring three times this term, doing so most recently in the May 29 success against Montreal.

As we should all know by now, the 37-year-old is the man for the big occasion, with his brace in the 2022 Fifa World Cup Final living long in the memory. Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of that 3-3 draw with France in Lusail, Qatar, and he's unlikely to be daunted by opening up the Club World Cup in America.

Whether it be from a shot in open play, a penalty, a free-kick, or anything in between, if Messi is within shooting range of the goal, you'd back him to score, so he's the obvious pick in the first goalscorer market on Sunday, and at 7/2, he's still worth backing, in my opinion.

Match Result - Inter Miami @ 6/5

I don't see this being a walk in the park for Inter Miami, far from it, but I am expecting the Herons to get over the line with all three points.

Al Ahly ended the season superbly, but they weren't tested too much in their final six league games, and they failed to beat runners-up Pyramids or third-place Zamalek in 2024/25, relying on their record against the rest of the division to see them to the title.

Meanwhile, in April, they suffered an AFC Champions League semi-final exit to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, drawing 1-1 over two legs before losing a penalty shootout.

The Egyptian outfit giants have made a few big moves in the market, but the new additions to the squad won't strike too much fear into their American counterparts, who have arguably the best-ever player in their ranks, complemented by one of this century's greatest strikers, Suarez, and one of the finest deep-lying midfielders, Busquets.

Granted, none of those three are at the peak of their powers, but even Suarez, whose physical traits have declined dramatically, has scored eight goals and supplied the same number of assists this season.

Plus, Venezuela international Segovia, signed from Casa Pia earlier this year, has made an instant impact, registering nine direct goal contributions (four goals, five assists) in 16 MLS appearances, and Inter Miami aren't solely reliant on Messi, as evidenced by league wins against Houston Dynamo (1-4) and Charlotte FC (1-0) either side of a 2-0 Concacaf Champions Cup victory over Cavalier (2-0), all without their No.10.

I'm backing Mascherano's men to grind out a success on American soil, giving themselves a good chance of qualification for the knockouts ahead of further group games against FC Porto (June 19) and Palmeiras (June 24).

Offers

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Club World Cup match played on Sunday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Monday’s Club World Cup matches

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.