NEW JERSEY – With their FIFA Club World Cup campaign hanging in the balance, Egyptian giants Al-Ahly continue to fine-tune preparations ahead of a pivotal showdown with Portuguese side Porto in the final round of Group A fixtures.
The high-stakes encounter is set for Tuesday, June 24, with kickoff scheduled for 4:00am Cairo Local Time at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
The Red Devils have based their training operations at the Pingry School facilities in New Jersey, where head coach José Riveiro is doubling down on both tactical refinements and physical conditioning in a bid to reverse his side’s recent second-half struggles—a trend that proved costly in their opening fixtures against Inter Miami and Palmeiras.
Determined to restore intensity and stamina over 90 minutes, Riveiro has overseen a series of technical meetings with his backroom staff, leading to the introduction of updated training protocols and load management systems aimed at improving the squad’s physical resilience and match endurance. The focus remains sharp ahead of what is now a must-win encounter.
Qualification scenario
Al-Ahly sits at the bottom of Group A with a single point from their opening two matches. They trail Porto, who also has a single point, on Goal Difference. Group leaders Palmeiras sits atop the table with 4 points (GD +2), levels with second-placed Inter Miami (GD +1).
To qualify for the Round of 16, Al-Ahly must defeat Porto by at least two goals and hope Palmeiras beat Inter Miami in the other group match.
A draw between Inter Miami and Palmeiras would see both sides advance, eliminating both Al-Ahly and Porto.
The Egyptian champions began their campaign with a tightly contested 0-0 stalemate against Inter Miami, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras, where second-half lapses proved decisive. With their tournament hopes now riding on multiple variables, every goal and every moment in the final round will be critical.
Squad updates
In the wake of their defeat to the Brazilian champions, the Al-Ahly squad has been split into recovery and high-intensity training groups.
The starting XI from the Palmeiras match engaged in light recovery sessions, while the remaining players underwent vigorous technical drills to maintain physical sharpness and match readiness.
The team will be without midfielder Marwan Attia, who is suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the loss to Palmeiras. His earlier booking came in the opener against Inter Miami, ruling him out of the decisive match due to suspension.
In more positive news, midfielder Ahmed Nabil “Koka” has returned to full group training. Koka had suffered a knee injury during the Miami encounter and was subsequently sidelined for the second-round fixture.
Following a full medical assessment, the coaching staff has declared him fit and available for the showdown with Porto.
However, winger Taher Mohamed Taher remains unavailable. The pacey forward is undergoing a rehabilitation programme after sustaining a quadriceps strain. Though he has resumed gym-based recovery work at the team’s hotel in New Jersey, he will not feature in the final group match.
Tactical drive
Coach Riveiro has taken proactive steps to restore focus within the squad, holding a team meeting in the aftermath of the Palmeiras defeat.
The Spanish tactician met with the players following the Palmeiras defeat, urging them to stay focused and rise to the occasion in their final group game.
Riveiro is pushing his squad for a statement performance to keep their Club World Cup journey alive.
With pride, reputation, and survival on the line, Al-Ahly enters Tuesday’s clash with everything to play for. A victory—by the right margin—could write a stunning comeback story and extend their journey in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
This marks Al-Ahly’s 10th appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup. The Cairo powerhouse has earned global recognition over the years, clinching four bronze medals—in 2006, 2020, 2021, and 2023—under the tournament’s previous format.
