African Champions League winners Al Ahly have been placed in Group A following today’s FIFA Club World Cup draw in Miami.
Al Ahly will face Brazilian side Palmeiras, Portuguese club Porto, and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. The Red Devils are set to open the tournament against Inter Miami on June 15, 2024, in Miami. Their second match will be against Palmeiras, followed by their final group stage game against Porto. The dates and venues for the latter two matches are yet to be anounced.
Should Al Ahly advance from Group A, they will face one of the two qualifying teams from Group B, which features Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Brazilian club Botafogo, and U.S. side Seattle Sounders.
The draw also produced several excitingmatchups. Saudi giants Al Hilal have been grouped with European champions Real Madrid, Mexican club Pachuca, and Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in Group H.
UAE’s Al Ain and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca have been drawn together in an extremely challenging group, Group G, where they will compete alongside European heavyweights Manchester City and Juventus.
Tunisian club Esperance Sportive de Tunis is in Group D, alongside Chelsea, Mexican side Club León, and Brazilian team Flamengo.
This edition marks the inaugural 32-team format of the FIFA Club World Cup, featuring eight groups of four teams each, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.