The opening match of the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup reaction took place on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Inter Miami, the MLS host club, faced Egyptian champions Al Ahly. The game ended in a scoreless 0–0 draw in front of a crowd of 60,927 spectators, punctuated by moments of individual brilliance, ceremony-related awkwardness and tense footballing drama.
Club World Cup reaction: Match flow & key moments
Al Ahly started strongly, challenging Inter Miami’s defensive structure in the early stages. Their pacey transitions and threatening runs culminated in a penalty for a foul on Zizo. However, Al Ahly’s former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet’s spot-kick was weak, and Inter Miami’s veteran goalkeeper Óscar Ustari made a confident save, preserving the clean sheet (and earning “Man of the Match” honours)
The momentum shifted in Miami’s favor during the second half. Lionel Messi—whose presence still electrifies crowds worldwide—provided the spark. A beautifully curled free kick in the 64th minute strafed the side netting, prompting wild cheers and brief celebration from sections of the crowd before it was clear the ball had missed . 
Messi also delivered a pinpoint cross that teed up Fafa Picault for a header, only for Al Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawy to tip it over the bar. In stoppage time, Messi once again threatened with a curling effort from outside the box narrowly deflected onto the crossbar by El Shenawy, maintaining the goalless stalemate
This second-half revival left Inter Miami with confidence ahead of their next Group A fixtures against FC Porto (June 19) and Palmeiras (June 23)
Summary of match priorities:
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First-half: Al Ahly controlled the tempo; penalty saved by Ustari.
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Second-half: Inter Miami dominated; Messi’s creativity tested Al Shenawy twice.
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Stoppage time: Late thriller denied by goalkeepers involved in all the key interventions.
Club World Cup reaction: Goalkeeper showdown
This Club World Cup reaction wasn’t just about Messi—it centered on phenomenal goalkeeping from both sides:
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Óscar Ustari: The Argentine veteran delivered a performance for the ages, making eight saves, including the crucial penalty stop. His leadership and calm under pressure injected life into Inter Miami when trailing
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Mohamed El Shenawy: Al Ahly’s hero was equally decisive in the second half, denying Messi’s header and deflecting the late free-kick onto the bar
Their duels illustrated the low margin between victory and draw in this kind of tightly contested affair, especially in a stadium hosting 32-team Club World Cup action for the first time.
Club World Cup reaction: Opening ceremony critique
It’s rare that a FIFA Club World Cup reaction notes the opening ceremony more than the football, but this one was almost comical. Sparse attendance on the pitch during the ceremonial dance marred its intended spectacle. The theatrics felt forced—pivoting on generic Latino-pop beats and overproduced video montages praising football “unity” and “a new golden era”
A particularly odd moment involved players walking onto the pitch one by one rather than entering en masse—seemingly designed to hype Messi’s name callout. It resembled reverse engineering: flashy hype, minimal genuine group celebration .
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Club World Cup reaction: Crowd dynamics & attendance
Ticket sales were sluggish at first—prices dropped from over $300 to under $60 to boost attendance. At kickoff the stadium looked roughly one-third full, with many empty seats visible .
But by dusk, more fans arrived—potentially held up in traffic or taking time to filter in—and the announced total reached 60,927, lending a more respectable atmosphere
Al Ahly supporters were loud from the start, and despite early anthem-round lukewarm applause, the mood picked up as Messi’s free kick misfire briefly fooled many into thinking he’d scored—triggering brief celebrations
Club World Cup reaction: What this means for both teams
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Inter Miami: The result confirmed that when Messi plays at his level, bolstered by a dependable goalkeeper, they’re competitive against top clubs globally. The draw sets them up nicely for the tougher second-round fixtures; Javier Mascherano will hope for added cohesion and finishing edge.
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Al Ahly: The Egyptian side proved resilient. They started strong and defended well under bright lights. Coach José Riveiro will likely read the game as a missed opportunity, but also evidence that his team can hang with star-studded opponents
Final Club World Cup reaction: A promising launch
In its first outing under the new format, the Club World Cup reaction was mixed: a largely entertaining match held back only by two goalkeepers in top form, an overblown but underwhelming opening ceremony, and a crowd that needed time to fill in.
The result—a 0–0 draw—leaves both teams with 1 point in Group A. Messi and Ustari earned praise, Al Shenawy stood firm, and the tournament begins with a sense of cautious optimism. The next round promises more intensity as Inter Miami takes on Porto in Atlanta on June 19 and Al Ahly faces Palmeiras in New York.
