D605-EEUU CELEBRACION FANS AL AHLY MUNDIAL CLUBES

STORY: Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday (June 14).

Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver. His best chance came through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar.

Though the opener ended in a disappointing draw, you wouldn’t know it from the reactions from Al-Ahly fans who sang and leaped into the air in raucous celebrations as they left the stadium.

Fans said they were confident their side would still be able to advance out of the Group Stage of the 32-team tournament.

Though perhaps a bit more subdued, Miami fans also said they had faith they’d make it to the Knockout Stage of the tournament which will culminate with a world champion on July 13.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 14, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF AL AHLY FANS SINGING AND CELEBRATING AS THEY LEAVE STADIUM

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AL AHLY FAN, MOMEN ELGHAZOULY, FROM CANADA OF EGYPTIAN DESCENT, SAYING:

“It was crazy, man. There was lots of action. We had fun. At least everybody is going home happy. Nobody is sad.”

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AL AHLY FAN, MARK RAMZY, FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS, SAYING:

“We missed the penalty. That was bad. Usually, I’m a Miami fan, I’m a Messi fan. But I’m also Egyptian, so I wanted to root for Ahly. It was a good game. 0-0, that’s OK. Disappointed, but not too upset.”

4. RAMZY HOLDING AN EGYPTIAN FLAG

5. PEOPLE LEAVING STADIUM

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AL AHLY FAN, AMY MATTA, SAYING:

“It’s the first time I’ve attended a football match. It was the first time for me, and it was amazing. To see this at the beginning, the opening ceremony, it was amazing. I enjoyed it a lot.”

7. PEOPLE GOING DOWN THE ESCALATOR

8. INTER MIAMI FANS CHEERING AS THEY LEAVE STADIUM

9. YOUNG BOY WEARING MESSI SHIRT

10. AL AHLY FANS CHANTING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTER MIAMI FAN, CARLOS SEGURA, FROM MIAMI, SAYING:

“I saw enough, that’s all there is. We got through it, 0-0, we had our chances, but so did they. We got through it, that’s it. We were missing Jordi Alba. And going forward, Messi is one of a kind. But what can we do? At least we tied. Thank you for everything.”

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) YOUNG DISAPPOINTED INTER MIAMI FAN, LUCA RODRIGUEZ ALEJOS, FROM BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, 8-YEARS-OLD, SAYING:

“At some point Messi got cocky.”

REPORTER, ASKING:

“He fell?”

RODRIGUEZ ALEJOS, SAYING:

“No, he got cocky.”

REPORTER, ASKING:

“So you weren’t happy with Messi’s (performance)?”

RODRIGUEZ ALEJOS, SAYING:

“Yeah, kind of.”

REPORTER, ASKING:

“You were hoping for a bit more?”