The Al Ahly manager has expressed the team's excitement at coming up against record Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami side at the FIFA Club World Cup.
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The revamped iteration of the global cup competition will begin on 15 June 2025, and for the first time ever in the tournament's history, 32 teams from across the world will compete to determine the best club in the world.
To open proceedings, Africa's record champions, Ahly, will take on Messi's Inter Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium in the Herons' home state.
The Red Devils are well-versed in the Club World Cup, having first participated 20 years ago, while this will be Inter Miami's first appearance. However, according to the Egyptian giants' head coach Marcel Koller, they are excited at the prospect of facing a side that boasts football icon Messi on such a prestigious stage.
"Our group in the FIFA Club World Cup is very exciting, especially with the presence of Lionel Messi," Koller told FIFA, as per Ahram Online.
"We will treat the opening match as an away game, as American fans are expected to support Inter Miami," Koller added. "I expect our players are also excited and will do their best to get a result."
"Porto and Palmeiras are big teams in Portugal and Brazil, so these are exciting games for me and the players."
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"We will play against big teams and will try our best. It's clear that we want to win, but our opponents also want to do that. I expect it will be interesting," the Swiss coach concluded.
