Sat Jun 14 23:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Inter Miami Faces Pressure at Club World Cup: Messi Eager, Coach Frustrated
**Miami, FL -** Inter Miami enters the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with high expectations and a dose of reality, as former goalkeeper Shaka Hislop warns the team needs to perform well to avoid embarrassing MLS. Lionel Messi, while excited about the opportunity to compete against the world’s best, acknowledges the expectations with Inter Miami are different than those he faced with Barcelona.
“Having the chance to be part of it is exciting,” Messi told FIFA. “The expectations I have are different to the ones I had when I played for other teams, but I’m eager and I look forward to competing against the best [teams] and doing well.”
Inter Miami is set to kick off the competition against Egypt’s Al Ahly on Saturday, followed by matches against FC Porto of Portugal and Brazil’s Palmeiras in the group stage. The team, only established in 2020, faces a significant challenge against established global powerhouses.
However, Miami Head Coach Javier Mascherano voiced his frustration about the club’s lack of transfer activity leading up to the tournament. He confirmed that Jordi Alba, Yannick Bright, and Gonzalo Luján will miss Saturday’s opener due to injury.
“For the last few months, we have been saying that we needed to get some reinforcements,” Mascherano told reporters. He expressed disappointment in not being able to replace Robert Taylor and Julian Gressel to bring other players.
Despite these challenges, Mascherano maintains a sense of optimism. “I think it’s a huge opportunity for us to test each other out to see what our level is,” he said, adding that the team is eager to showcase its true potential against the world’s best.
Inter Miami players say they will approach the tournament game by game, hoping to advance to the knockout rounds. While acknowledging the importance of the competition, the team’s success hinges on overcoming its challenges and proving its mettle on the global stage.
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