Al Ahly&rsquo;s journey at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has come to an emotional end after a vivid 4&ndash;4 draw with FC Porto. Despite a strong, high-energy performance, the result wasn&rsquo;t enough to send them through to the next round, as Inter Miami and Palmeiras advanced from the group instead.&nbsp;
Historic Performance by Abou Ali
Today&rsquo;s match against FC Porto was a rollercoaster of emotion. Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali delivered a sensational performance, scoring a hat-trick &mdash; the first ever by an Al Ahly player in the Club World Cup and the first by any Arab player in tournament history. Mohamed Benrahmdine added a fourth goal, giving Al Ahly a real shot at qualification. But defensive lapses allowed Porto to come back and equalize, ending the game 4&ndash;4 and dashing Al Ahly's hopes.
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Al Ahly Earns Over $11.5M Despite Exit
Despite being out, Al Ahly will leave Saudi Arabia with a sizable payday. The club earned approximately $11.55 million from this tournament &mdash; including $9.55 million in guaranteed participation fees and an estimated $2 million from performance bonuses after two group-stage draws. The 2025 edition of the tournament featured a record-breaking prize pool of $1 billion, making it the most lucrative Club World Cup in history.
Record-Breaking Legacy: Tenth Appearance
This year marked Al Ahly&rsquo;s 10th appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup &mdash; the most by any African team. The Red Devils previously finished third in 2006, 2020 and 2021, cementing their status as one of the most consistent clubs from the continent on the global stage.
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Strong Start Against Messi&rsquo;s Side
The Cairo-based club began the tournament with a disciplined 0&ndash;0 draw against Inter Miami, led by global football icon Lionel Messi. The result showed that Al Ahly could compete on the world stage, holding their own against the MLS giants in one of the most-watched matches of the group stage.
Tough Loss to Palmeiras
The second match brought disappointment. Al Ahly fell 2&ndash;0 to Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras, putting them in a must-win situation going into their final group game. That result left them vulnerable to elimination if Inter Miami managed to take points off Palmeiras &mdash; which is exactly what happened.
Even though the scoreboard did not go in their favor, Al Ahly leave the tournament having proven their strength, resilience, and identity. With history-making moments like Wessam Abou Ali&rsquo;s hat-trick and strong performances against world-class teams, they have once again shown why they remain a dominant force in African and Arab football.
Photo Credit: Al Ahly's official page&nbsp;

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