As the world turns its gaze to the USA to follow the revamped FIFA Club World Cup™, Egypt’s Al Ahly FC arrive not just as participants, but as a symbol of history and defiance. Going up against the elite, Al Ahly will enter the fray armed with an unflinching spirit and an unshakable determination to stand on the winner’s podium.
One player who embodies this fighting spirit on the pitch is Al Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour, who has become an essential part of the line-up since arriving at El Qalaa El Hamraa in the summer of 2023 from Danish club FC Midtjylland, quickly establishing himself and winning over fans with his remarkable play.
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From the moment he first donned the Al Ahly shirt, Emam Ashour showed that he is not afraid of a challenge. A complete player at his position, he combines technique, physical strength, fitness, passing finesse and a knack for scoring, along with the sort of tactical flexibility every manager dreams of.
As the tournament approaches, Ashour is fired up to play on a global stage with Al Ahly – a golden opportunity for him to showcase his abilities internationally and help his team add to the club’s rich record of championships.
“Of course, I’m incredibly excited to participate in a tournament like this,” the 27-year-old Ashour said, speaking exclusively with FIFA. “I hope we can bring joy to our fans.”
Al Ahly are set for a blockbuster showdown when they open the tournament against Inter Miami CF, led by Argentinian legend Lionel Messi and a star-studded squad. The match will be a stiff challenge for the African champions and a true test of their capabilities and aspirations in the tournament. Emam Ashour and his colleagues understand just what is at stake.
“No doubt, I’m fired up to face the best player in the world,” Ashour said. “I’m confident that we’re capable of achieving something worthy of our name and the Al Ahly name.”
Al Ahly’s fans are counting down the days, bursting with pride at seeing their beloved team go toe-to-toe with the world’s finest clubs. The Egyptian club has a massive, intensely loyal fan base that stretches across the globe. They travel to fill the stands at home and abroad, shaking stadiums with thunderous chants and striking fear into the hearts of opponents. They are the 12th man who never lets the club down. This legendary devotion is one of the secrets of Al Ahly’s dominance, as their rich haul of continental and domestic trophies will attest.
Even though the tournament will be in the USA, Al Ahly players are convinced that their fans will be there in full force, as they always have been. They trust that the passion of their fans knows no borders – it will drive them to travel thousands of miles to stand by their team at this global event. The presence of the fans will undoubtedly be critical to boosting the players’ morale and pushing them to new heights.
Ashour, the Egyptian Premier League’s top scorer for the 2024/25 season, with 13 goals to his name, said as much: “We’re definitely looking forward to having all our fans behind us. Their presence gives any match its true meaning. Without them, it loses so much of its value. My message to them is that we need them to stand by us and support us, as we have always known them to do, in every match and every tournament.”
With the matches taking place on US pitches, the Club World Cup is something of a dress rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which the USA will co-host with Canada and Mexico. That makes it a prime opportunity for players and fans to get a taste of the atmosphere in the USA.
Ashour appreciates that if he shines here with Al Ahly, he could well find himself back here next year in the shirt of the Egyptian team. Currently atop Group A, the Pharaohs are well-positioned to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup. This means that the Al Ahly star has a historic opportunity to help realize a dream of millions of Egyptians by returning the national team to the global stage.
“Of course, I’m very excited to compete in these stadiums,” Ashour said. “This is the sort of tournament every player dreams of – a chance to show what you’re capable of.”
