Al Ahly vs Inter Miami Predictions, Odds and Betting Tips

Dylan Wilkerson Sports Betting Expert

12 minute read

The opening game of the Club World Cup features two surprising contenders from Group A: Al Ahly and Inter Miami. Here, we provide our predictions for the matchup between these teams.

Inter Miami has gained significant attention following the acquisition of Lionel Messi in the summer of 2023. This match presents one of the last opportunities to see Messi perform on a global stage, yet his team faces a challenge to progress beyond the group stages, with FC Porto and Palmeiras currently favored in the betting odds.

For this game, Inter Miami is listed at approximately 2.00 / +100 on the 1x2 market. A strong start is crucial for the team if they hope to advance in their group, but the odds indicate that dismissing Al Ahly would be unwise.

Al Ahly may be viewed as the underdog, but the Egyptian club has a solid track record of success, having claimed four of the last six CAF Champions League titles. They will be aiming to create an upset during their time in the USA this summer.

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Analysis of the Match

The Club World Cup is set to begin with an intriguing matchup between Africa's most successful club, Al Ahly, and the host team, Inter Miami, known for its star-studded roster.

Inter Miami will enjoy a home advantage at Hard Rock Stadium, benefiting from enthusiastic local fans and the climate that they are accustomed to.

A key player to watch is Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient. Since joining Inter Miami, he has had limited exposure to teams outside of the CONCACAF region, with his only match against non-CONCACAF competition occurring in June 2023 against Australia.

While Messi has been in remarkable form, Javier Mascherano's squad has displayed inconsistent performance this season, facing significant expectations to advance from a challenging group that includes Palmeiras and Porto.

Notably, Inter Miami is the only team in the tournament without a continental title, despite having an experienced roster. Conversely, Al Ahly has recently secured its 45th Egyptian Premier League title but has made a managerial change ahead of this tournament, appointing Spaniard José Rivero.

This inaugural match will serve as a test for Al Ahly in terms of matching up against a more physically imposing opponent. It holds the potential for an upset and could pave the way for an unexpected narrative throughout the tournament.

Al Ahly Analysis and Form

Egypt’s Al Ahly, the most successful team in African football history with 12 CAF Champions League titles, is one of four African representatives at this year's Club World Cup. 

Despite an impressive average of 1.92 goals per game, Al Ahly was knocked out in the Champions League semifinals by Mamelodi Sundowns, having won the tournament in 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24. The elimination led to the departure of Swiss manager Marcel Koller, who had been in charge since 2022.

Under interim coach Emad El-Nahhas, the Egyptian giants clinched their 45th national league title, edging past Pyramids with a perfect six-match winning streak. Now, coach José Rivero, renowned for his high-scoring tenure with Orlando Pirates, takes the helm. 

He is expected to shift Al Ahly from Koller's defensive 4-2-3-1 formation to a more expansive and creative style. Rivero’s team averaged 1.77 goals per game, suggesting a change of approach for his new club.

Inter Miami Analysis and Form

Inter Miami CF, the Seattle Sounders, and LAFC represent Major League Soccer in the competition, with The Herons standing out by participating despite not having won a continental title or qualified through rankings. Instead, the club topped the 2024 MLS regular season and claimed the Supporters' Shield but was eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. 

The club triumphed in the Leagues Cup in 2023, a tournament featuring MLS and Liga MX teams. It is currently third in the Eastern Conference league table, but with a game in hand, and back-to-back games for the first time since the end of March. 

Inter Miami boasts a star-studded lineup, including 2022 World Cup winner Lionel Messi, who recently became the first player in club history to achieve 50 goal contributions in the regular season, and his former Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. 

Coached by Javier Mascherano in his debut senior managerial role, the team has rapidly ascended with David Beckham at the helm. 

The Argentine and South American presence, with 16 players in total, combined with Messi's brilliance, could help them advance from a challenging group.

Head to Head Analysis

As with many of the matches in this competition, there isn’t much between these teams in the way of history. This is especially true in the case of Inter Miami. 

Formed in 2018, the Herons haven’t had much of a chance to play outside of the MLS. This will be the first competitive match Miami has played against a side based outside of the CONCACAF region.

The club has previously had success against sides outside of the MLS. They beat Cruz Azul in the 2023 Leagues Cup and the Jamaican outfit Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year. The sole defeat to a non-MLS side in a competitive fixture was the aggregate defeat to Monterrey in last year’s Champions Cup.

Al Ahly has more experience on the intercontinental stage, but not by much. The club faced the Seattle Sounders in the 2022/23 Club World Cup. It was a much smaller competition back then, but the side from Egypt won 1-0 before losing to eventual winners Real Madrid in the semifinals.

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Al Ahly possible starting lineup:
El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Dari, Koka; Dieng, Ashour, Attia; Bencharki, Abou Ali, Mohamed.

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Ustari; Weigandt, Falcon, Martinez, Alba; Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez.

There’s little need for change on the pitch for Al Ahly. Jose Riveiro inherited a title-winning side when he joined as head coach in late May. Expect Riveiro to continue his preference for an expansive attack, similar to what we saw under him at Orlando Pirates.

That means a start for the impressive Emam Ashour, who bagged nine goals from 21 midfield appearances this season. Wessam Abou Ali should play in the middle with Taher Mohamed and the Moroccan Achraf Bencharki on either wing. 

All eyes will be on Inter Miami’s Barcelona core. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets should all feature from the off for manager Javier Mascherano. Jordi Alba is the only major doubt after limping off in Miami’s 4-2 win over Monteral in late May. If fit, he’ll surely feature from the off.

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Dylan Wilkerson

Dylan Wilkerson has over 2 years of experience reporting and analyzing the sports betting industry for various sites. His portfolio includes work for SportsHandle and Action Network, in addition to VegasInsider. His favorite sports are the NFL, College Football, The PGA Tour, the LIV Tour, and Cricket. Dylan has a broad and deep understanding of various sports-related topics. More from Dylan Wilkerson