Inter Miami's highly anticipated debut in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be slightly dampened as key defender Jordi Alba is set to miss their opening match against Al Ahly. The match, scheduled for today, June 14th, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, marks the start of the expanded 32-team tournament.
Coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Alba's absence during a press conference on Friday, citing a leg muscle injury. This is a significant blow for the MLS side, as Alba's experience and playmaking abilities are crucial to their defensive stability and attacking prowess, particularly his link-up play with Lionel Messi.
Adding to Mascherano's selection woes, defensive midfielder Yannick Bright has also been ruled out of the Group A clash. Mascherano expressed his hope that both Alba and Bright would be available for their second group game. Gonzalo Lujan is also out with injury.
Inter Miami qualified for the Club World Cup 2025 after breaking the MLS regular-season points record with 74 points, surpassing the previous record set by New England in 2021. They were awarded the spot allotted to the host country after winning the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield and setting the league's single-season points record.
Their opponents, Al Ahly, secured their place in the tournament as the CAF (Confederation of African Football) Champions League winners from two seasons ago. The Egyptian giants have been in the United States for two weeks, preparing with a warm-up match against fellow Club World Cup participants Pachuca. Al Ahly's squad is fully fit, spearheaded by former Aston Villa forward Mahmoud Trezeguet, and coached by their new coach, Jose Riveiro.
Despite the injury setbacks, Mascherano remains optimistic about his team's chances. He highlighted Lionel Messi's good form and physical condition, emphasizing the team's responsibility to create an environment where he can shine.
Inter Miami's Group A also includes Brazilian club Palmeiras and Portuguese side Porto. Following the match against Al Ahly, they will travel to Atlanta to face Porto before returning to South Florida to close out the group stage against Palmeiras. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout phase.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks a significant moment for Inter Miami and MLS as a whole. It provides a platform to compete against some of the world's best club teams. Despite the absence of Jordi Alba, Inter Miami will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign, hoping the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez can lead them to victory.
