Shocking Ranking for Al Ahly on the 2025 Club World Cup Contenders List

Al Ahly’s participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup continues to be a major focus for the Red Castle’s passionate fanbase, who closely follow all developments surrounding the team ahead of the highly anticipated tournament set to kick off in mid-June in the United States. In this context, a recent report published by the renowned sports outlet Planet Football sparked widespread debate among supporters after it revealed a surprising ranking for Al Ahly among the contenders for the title.

Al Ahly Ranked 22nd Despite Continental Achievements

According to the report, Al Ahly was ranked 22nd among the teams predicted to win the 2025 Club World Cup — a placement that disappointed many fans, especially considering the club’s remarkable recent record in African competitions. The global sports network pointed out that Al Ahly “qualified easily for the Club World Cup after clearly dominating the CAF Champions League, winning four of the last five editions,” and also noted that the team currently tops the Egyptian Premier League standings, suggesting they could pull off a major surprise in the tournament.

Real Madrid Tops the Predictions Despite Poor Results

Interestingly, the report placed Spanish giants Real Madrid at the top of the list of title contenders, despite their trophyless European season — missing out on the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey. Nevertheless, Real Madrid’s history, experience, and brand reputation continue to make them favorites to win.

Tough Group Awaits Al Ahly at the Club World Cup

The draw for the 2025 Club World Cup placed Al Ahly in Group A alongside Inter Miami (USA), Palmeiras (Brazil), and FC Porto (Portugal). This “group of death” combines different footballing schools of physical strength and technical skill, making Al Ahly’s mission to qualify for the knockout stage especially challenging.

New Tournament Format Features 32 Teams for the First Time

This year’s edition of the tournament will adopt a new structure with 32 participating teams for the first time in Club World Cup history. The teams are divided into 8 groups of 4, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16 — which will be played as single-elimination matches. Notably, the third-place match has been scrapped, leaving the final as the sole decider.

Continental Distribution of Participating Clubs

12 teams from UEFA (Europe)

6 teams from CONMEBOL (South America)

4 teams from CAF (Africa)

4 teams from AFC (Asia)

4 teams from CONCACAF (North and Central America & the Caribbean)

1 team from OFC (Oceania)

1 team from the host nation (USA)

Al Ahly Fans Hope to Defy Expectations

Despite the underwhelming ranking, Al Ahly fans remain optimistic, with high hopes for a strong and honorable showing in the tournament. Their confidence stems from the team’s extensive international and continental experience, along with the leadership of Swiss head coach Marcel Koller, who has built a cohesive unit capable of handling major matches. Supporters are betting on the players’ determination and the passionate backing of Egyptian fans to achieve a historic milestone for the club.