FIFA's revamped Club World Cup kicked off in Miami with a 0-0 draw between Al Ahly and Inter Miami. Despite concerns about low ticket sales and competition with other sporting events, the game drew a respectable 60,927 attendees, largely due to Messi's presence. While the event had some organizational quirks, including a pre-game national anthem and an unconventional opening ceremony, the match itself was exciting, featuring strong performances from both teams' goalkeepers. The tournament's future success remains uncertain, but the opening game demonstrated more popularity than initially anticipated.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.