Honestly, if you missed the Inter Miami vs Al Ahly clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, you missed a weirdly fascinating tactical chess match. Everyone expected a goal-fest. I mean, you’ve got Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez on one side and the kings of Africa on the other. But what we actually got was a 0-0 stalemate that felt way more intense than the scoreboard suggested.
It was June 2025. The air in Miami was thick. Over 60,000 people crammed into the stands, half wearing pink, the other half in the deep red of the Egyptian giants.
This wasn't just some preseason friendly. This was the opening night of the newly expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup. People keep calling the Egyptian side "Al Ahli" by mistake—confusing them with the Saudi team—but this was Al Ahly SC from Cairo. Big difference. One has history that stretches back to 1907; the other is part of the recent Saudi spending spree.
The Night Oscar Ustari Became a Hero
The first half was basically a siege. Al Ahly didn’t care about Messi’s eight Ballon d’Ors. They came out swinging. Wessam Abou Ali actually put the ball in the net midway through the half, but the linesman’s flag killed the celebration. Offside. Barely.
Then came the moment that should have ended Inter Miami.
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In the 43rd minute, the referee pointed to the spot. Penalty for Al Ahly. Trézéguet, the man who has done it on the biggest stages in Europe and for Egypt, stepped up. You could feel the air leave the stadium. He struck it well, but Oscar Ustari—the 38-year-old veteran keeper Miami had to rely on—dived like a teenager. He blocked the initial shot and somehow scrambled up to deny the rebound.
It was pure chaos.
Messi and the Woodwork
Inter Miami is a different beast when Javier Mascherano (who took over after Tata Martino left) lets them play. The second half was all pink. Messi started pulling the strings from deep, finding those little pockets of space that don't seem to exist for normal humans.
He hit the post. Twice.
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One was a signature free kick that beat Mohamed El Shenawy but wouldn't curl quite enough. The second one? Man, that was heartbreaking for the home fans. In the 96th minute—literally the last meaningful kick of the game—Messi whipped a long-range curler toward the top corner. El Shenawy, who is a legend in Cairo for a reason, got just enough fingertip on it to push it onto the crossbar.
Game over. 0-0.
Why This Inter Miami vs Al Ahly Result Actually Mattered
Look, a draw feels like a letdown, but in a group with FC Porto and Palmeiras, a point is better than a loss. Al Ahly’s coach was visibly frustrated afterward, saying they should have scored "three or four" in the first half. He wasn't entirely wrong.
Inter Miami showed they could suffer. That’s something MLS teams usually struggle with against international heavyweights. They didn't fold.
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Key stats from the night:
- Possession: Miami 55% - Al Ahly 45%
- Total Shots: Miami 14 - Al Ahly 11
- Saves: Ustari 8 - El Shenawy 5
It's funny because people still talk about the Riyadh Season Cup where Miami lost 4-3 to Al Hilal. That was a circus. This game against Al Ahly was real football. It was disciplined, it was tense, and it proved that Al Ahly belongs in the conversation with the world's best, regardless of their budget compared to European or American clubs.
What’s Next for the Herons?
Now that the 2026 MLS season is in full swing, the focus has shifted to the new Miami Freedom Park. The team is moving away from the temporary feel of Chase Stadium. If you're following the schedule, the first-ever match at the new grounds is against Austin FC on April 4, 2026.
But the memory of that night against Al Ahly still lingers. It was the night Messi couldn't find the magic, and a 38-year-old goalkeeper saved the day.
If you’re looking to follow Inter Miami’s progress through the rest of the 2026 season, keep an eye on their midweek fixtures. They have seven of them this year, and with the World Cup break coming in June, the points they pick up now in the early spring are going to be massive for the Supporters' Shield race. Check the Apple TV schedule for the local kickoff times, especially for the rivalry games against Orlando City.