Football/ African giants face tough tests in expanded Club World Cup
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this Sunday with Egypt’s Al Ahly taking on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in Miami (00:00 GMT). The record African champions, drawn in Group A, will later face Brazil’s Palmeiras and Portugal’s FC Porto in their quest to advance from the new 32-team format.
Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca face a daunting Group G challenge against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Juventus, and UAE’s Al Ain.
Other African representatives include Tunisia’s Espérance (Group D) and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns (Group F), who meet Flamengo and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
Key african fixtures:
- June 15: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami
- June 17: Espérance vs Flamengo
- June 18: Wydad vs Manchester City
- June 21: Sundowns vs Dortmund
The tournament marks FIFA’s revamped global club competition, with African teams seeking to surpass their previous best finish: Raja Casablanca’s 2013 runners-up spot.
All matches will be played across U.S. venues, concluding with the July 13 final in New Jersey.
