The new FIFA Club World Cup began on Saturday with a goalless draw between Inter Miami and Egypt’s Al Ahly. Despite the lack of goals, the match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium delivered moments of intensity and excitement, particularly in the second half, with Lionel Messi taking center stage.

In front of nearly 61,000 spectators, the Egyptian side dominated the early stages, surprising Inter Miami with their pace and high pressing. Al Ahly, backed by a large and vocal crowd, created several clear chances and forced Argentine goalkeeper Óscar Ustari into multiple key saves. Ustari became a standout performer, stopping a penalty taken by Trezeguet and denying other dangerous attempts.

Messi, largely absent from play during the first half, sparked concern after suffering a hard foul by Achraf Dari. The Argentine captain stayed on the ground for several tense moments, but ultimately continued. The incident seemed to ignite both the team and the crowd, and Inter Miami ended the half with their best chance—a goal-line clearance by Wessam Abou Ali.

In the second half, Inter Miami looked more composed. Tadeo Allende came close to scoring, and Messi began creating opportunities with shots and assists. His curling strike in added time was tipped onto the crossbar by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who also stopped a powerful header from Maximiliano Falcón.

The draw leaves both teams with a chance to advance in Group A. Inter Miami will face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al Ahly takes on Palmeiras in New York.

For FIFA, the tournament’s opening day was considered a success. Initial concerns about attendance were dispelled by a strong turnout, fueled in part by the presence of global stars like Messi and Luis Suárez. Though the goals didn’t come, the spectacle marked a promising start to the competition.

With information from AFP