CAIRO – Al-Ahly President Mahmoud El-Khatib welcomed US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg and her delegation at the club’s headquarters in El-Gezira, marking a key step in strengthening ties and exploring avenues of cooperation ahead of Al-Ahly’s participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The high-profile visit comes just weeks before the Cairo giants kick off their campaign in the expanded tournament, scheduled from June 15 to July 13 across 11 US cities.
Al-Ahly will take center stage on opening day, Sunday, June 15, at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—a 93,000-seat venue that hosts NFL’s New York Giants and Jets.
The Red Devils are set for a landmark opener against MLS side Inter Miami, led by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, in a clash that signals a new chapter in Egypt-US sporting ties.
During the meeting, Captain El-Khatib conveyed the club board’s appreciation for the ambassador’s visit, underlining its significance on the eve of Al-Ahly’s milestone tournament debut on American soil.
El-Khatib also commended the ongoing support from the US Embassy in Cairo and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to coordinating joint initiatives and events that reflect the stature of both Al-Ahly and the upcoming global event.
According to an official statement from Al-Ahly, US Ambassador Mustafa Garg expressed her enthusiasm for the club’s upcoming trip, describing the highly anticipated opener against Inter Miami as “a historic moment in sports diplomacy between Egypt and the United States.”
To mark the occasion, El-Khatib presented the ambassador with an official Al-Ahly jersey, club flag, and souvenirs bearing the club’s iconic crest.
In return, Ambassador Garg gifted El-Khatib a personalized jersey bearing his nickname “Bebo” alongside a special memento from the embassy. The exchange was followed by official group photos.
Also present were key club officials including Eng. Khaled Mortagy, Acting Vice President (Treasurer), Board Members Mohamed El-Ghazawy, Mohamed Serag, and Mohand Magdy; Dr. Saad Shalaby, Executive Director; Sherif Fouad, Media Advisor to the Board; and Naira Ali, General Marketing Director at Al-Ahly Football Company.
Looking ahead, El-Khatib will lead Al-Ahly’s first team delegation to the United States on June 4 to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup. In preparation, he held a series of high-level meetings with Engineer Mortagy, as well as Sports Director Captain Mohamed Youssef to finalize all logistics — including travel, accommodation, and training facilities.
Al-Ahly plans to hold a closed training camp upon arrival to fine-tune preparations ahead of their opening fixture on June 14.
FIFA has announced a landmark $1 billion prize pool for the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
Each participating club will receive a share of a $525 million participation pot, while an additional $475 million will be allocated based on performance throughout the tournament.
The eventual champions could earn up to $125 million in prize money—an unprecedented figure that surpasses the payouts of recent editions of both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups.
