MIAMI GARDENS, USA – Lionel Messi came within inches of delivering a dream finish, but Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by Egypt’s Al Ahly in the opening match of FIFA’s newly expanded 32-team Club World Cup on Saturday night at a packed Hard Rock Stadium.

A lively crowd of 60,927 watched as the Argentine icon nearly stole the show in stoppage time, only to see his trademark curling effort brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Al Ahly’s veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. It was one of several key stops by the Egyptian shot-stopper, who played a vital role in keeping the scoreline level.

Despite the lack of goals, the game delivered plenty of drama and excitement—especially for tournament organizers FIFA, who have faced criticism for adding another competition to an already crowded global football calendar. Still, on opening night, the atmosphere and intensity helped set a high tone for the rest of the tournament.

Early Chances and Missed Penalty

Al Ahly, backed by over 10,000 passionate supporters in the stands, started the match on the front foot and nearly took an early lead. Emam Ashour had a clear opportunity in the opening minutes, but Inter Miami’s Argentine goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was quick to react.

The Egyptians’ best chance of the first half came in the 33rd minute when Trezeguet earned a penalty after being fouled by Telasco Segovia. However, Trezeguet’s tame attempt was saved by Ustari, who also managed to smother the rebound before Trezeguet could capitalize.

Wessam Abou Ali, the Denmark-born Palestine international, also had a goal disallowed for offside and forced another acrobatic save from Ustari with a powerful long-range strike just before halftime.

Miami’s Second-Half Surge

Inter Miami regrouped after the break and looked far more dangerous, with Messi beginning to influence the game more deeply. In the 64th minute, he nearly found the net with a curling free-kick that kissed the outside of the post and nestled into the side netting, briefly fooling part of the crowd into believing the ball had gone in.

As Miami pressed harder in the final minutes, El Shenawy stepped up once again, saving a late header from Uruguayan defender Maxi Falcon before denying Messi’s potential winner in stoppage time with a fingertip save that clipped the bar.

A Strong Start for a New Era

Despite the goalless result, the match was seen as a success for FIFA, which has called the revamped Club World Cup a “new era” for global club football. The event runs through July 13, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The smooth handling of ticketing and security around Hard Rock Stadium also helped ease concerns following crowd issues during the 2021 Copa America final at the same venue.

For now, Inter Miami must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next Group A fixture against Portugal’s FC Porto in Atlanta on Thursday, followed by a clash with Brazilian giants Palmeiras at home.

Al Ahly, meanwhile, will take plenty of encouragement from their disciplined performance, solid defense, and the vocal support of their traveling fans.