This Saturday, the ball will begin to roll in Miami, marking the kickoff of the first edition of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament that, according to the organization's president, Gianni Infantino, signals “a new era for football.” The opening match will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, where Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, will face Egypt’s Al Ahly, one of the most decorated clubs in African football.

Infantino compared the launch of this tournament to the birth of the World Cup in 1930. “Today everyone is talking about this new World Cup, that’s why it’s historic,” he told AFP in an interview. Although the competition has drawn some criticism for its impact on the crowded football calendar, the FIFA president remains optimistic: “I’m convinced that once the ball starts rolling, everyone will realize this is something special.”

FIFA has also introduced a dynamic pricing system for ticket sales, a common strategy in the United States. Infantino defended the decision and dismissed the criticism: “People complain if prices are too high, too low, or even if we offer student discounts. But we don’t want empty stadiums, and I’m confident they’ll be quite full.”

On the sporting side, Inter Miami is participating as the winner of the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the best team of the 2024 MLS regular season, and is grouped with Palmeiras and Porto. Under Javier Mascherano, the team has recently shown strong improvement after a difficult run of form.

Lionel Messi enters the tournament in excellent shape, having scored five goals and provided three assists in his last three matches, earning MLS Player of the Month honors. This season, the Argentine star has already tallied 10 goals and 6 assists in 13 matches, reaffirming his role as the team’s undisputed leader.

On the other side, Al Ahly will not be an easy opponent. The Egyptian giants, with 12 CAF Champions League titles, arrive as three-time African champions, now led by Spanish coach José Riveiro, who took over following Marcel Koller’s departure.

With 32 teams and 63 matches on the schedule, this revamped Club World Cup promises global competitiveness, entertainment, and—as Infantino put it—the foundation of a new chapter in football history.