NEW JERSEY — Al-Ahly held their main training session in New Jersey as preparations intensified for their crucial Group A encounter against Brazilian heavyweights Palmeiras in the second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Egyptian giants will be eyeing their first victory of the tournament following a goalless stalemate with Inter Miami in their opening fixture. Palmeiras, meanwhile, aims to revive their campaign after being held to a scoreless draw by Porto.
Head coach José Riveiro has been closely analyzing footage of Palmeiras’ recent performances, including their opening match, in a bid to identify tactical advantages and tailor an effective game plan for Thursday’s high-stakes clash.
Players who featured prominently against Inter Miami were put through recovery drills, while the rest of the squad underwent an intense training session designed to boost physical conditioning and technical sharpness.
As part of the team’s build-up, Riveiro delivered a set of tactical instructions and emphasized the significance of this stage of the competition. He also held a detailed technical meeting, breaking down Palmeiras’ strengths and vulnerabilities, and called on the players to maintain full focus during training sessions.
The Red Devils will square off against Palmeiras at 7:00pm Cairo Local Time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with both teams eager to gain ground in a tightly contested group.
Riveiro is expected to tweak his starting XI, with Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo” being lined up to feature from the outset following confirmation that Emam Ashour will miss the remainder of the tournament after undergoing surgery for a fractured collarbone.
At left-back, the Spanish tactician is considering a switch as well, with Moroccan international Yahya Attiat-Allah in contention to replace Ahmed Nabil Koka. A final decision will depend on performance during the coming training sessions.
Al-Ahly opened their campaign with a goalless draw against MLS outfit Inter Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Similarly, the match between Palmeiras and Porto also ended 0-0, leaving all four Group A teams—Al-Ahly, Palmeiras, Porto, and Inter Miami—level on one point each, with identical goal records.
Should the group remain deadlocked, tiebreakers will be applied in the following order: head-to-head results, goal difference, goals scored, and fair play conduct.
Notably, Al-Ahly currently leads in fair play, having received only one yellow card (Marwan Attia), followed by Porto (2), Palmeiras (3), and Inter Miami (4).
A victory for Al-Ahly would take their tally to four points and put them in a strong position to qualify for the Round of 16, though progression may still hinge on other results.
A draw would leave the Egyptian champions on two points, making a win against Porto in the final round essential.
However, a loss would leave their fate hanging by a thread, with qualification dependent on both a win over Porto and favorable outcomes in other fixtures.
This marks Al-Ahly’s tenth appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup. The Cairo club has earned global respect through consistent performances, claiming the bronze medal on four occasions—in 2006, 2020, 2021, and 2023 under the tournament’s previous format.
FIFA has appointed English referee Anthony Taylor to officiate the clash, with Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn serving as his first and second assistants, respectively.
