Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly live score, updates, highlights from FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco

The Seattle Sounders will make history as the first Major League Soccer club to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup when they take on Egyptian side Al Ahly in Morocco on Saturday for the right to play a semifinal against European giants Real Madrid.

No club from the USA or Canada club has ever qualified for the Club World Cup, as Mexican teams have dominated the North American continental championship over the last two decades. The Sounders qualified for the annual tournament by winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

Seattle produced a memorable victory over Mexican side UNAM Pumas in the two-legged Champions League final to break the stranglehold last April.

The Sounders, as the North American club title holders, enter the Club World Cup in the quarterfinals. They match up against Al Ahly, who beat Oceania champions Auckland City 3-0 on Wednesday. Al Ahly qualified in an unusual manner as the CAF Champions League runners-up. Hosts Morocco were set to nominate Wayad Casablanca as the host nation participant, but with the side winning the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly were entered into the "host nation" slot instead.

It's almost time for @SoundersFC to make history 🇺🇸#ClubWC

The Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly live score

Goals:
None

Predicted lineups:

Seattle Sounders (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Frei (GK) — 16. A. Roldan, 28. Y. Gomez, 25. Ragen, 5. Nouhou — 11. Rusnak, 84. Atencio — 7. C. Roldan, 10. Lodeiro, 13. Morris — 9. Ruidiaz

Al Ahly (4-5-1, right to left): 1. El Shenawy (GK) — 30. Hany, 4. Metwalli, 24. Abdelmonem, 21. Maaloul — 14. El Shahat, 8. Fathi, 15. Dieng, 17. El Solia, 9. Adbelkader — 10. Sherif

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly live updates, highlights, commentary

120 mins to kick: The Sounders are in an unusual position in this match. The MLS season doesn't start for another three weeks, meaning they are entering into this massive FIFA tournament while still theoretically in their preseason. It will be fascinating to see how the squad responds, knowing there's months of rust to shake off.

Al Ahly, for their part, are in the midst of their Egyptian Premier League campaign, where they sit atop the league table. They have not won a league title since the 2019/20 season, having won five straight prior to that.

OFFICIALLY. MATCHDAY. IN MOROCCO. ⏰ pic.twitter.com/bz7heMauMe

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly lineups & team news

Seattle played in a pair of preseason friendlies in Spain before jetting over to Morocco, and they deployed what is likely their first-choice lineup in one of them.

The below 11 started against Austrian top-flight club Wolfsberger FC, and that lineup is almost identical to the best 11 from last season. The only depth issue appears to be in midfield, where 21-year-old academy product Josh Atencio could be primed to start alongside mainstay Albert Rusnak. The only other options are 19-year-old Daniel Leyva, 20-year-old Sota Kitahara or Joao Paulo, who's coming off an ACL tear. Kelyn Rowe could be deployed in the middle, but the club is clearly trying to use him at full-back when possible.

Seattle Sounders projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Frei (GK) — A. Roldan, Y. Gomez, Ragen, Nouhou — Rusnak, Atencio — C. Roldan, Lodeiro, Morris — Ruidiaz

Seattle Sounders subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

Unlike their MLS opponents, Al Ahly are in the midst of their Egyptian league season. They sit atop the table without a loss all year long. Their star is goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who has 42 caps for Egypt and is one of the country's most popular players.

Striker Mohamed Sherif is the club's leading scorer, with five league goals this season, and he bagged one in the win over Auckland City as well. Attacking midfielder Amr El Solia is another threat up front as he pulls the strings in the No. 10 role.

Two Egypt internationals, Akram Tawfik and Karim Fouad, are both missing due to ACL tears. 

Al Ahly projected starting lineup (4-5-1): El Shenawy (GK) — Hany, Metwalli, Abdelmonem, Maaloul — El Shahat, Fathi, Dieng, El Solia, Adbelkader — Sherif

Al Ahly subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

How to watch Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 4
• Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Fox Sports 2
• Spanish-language TV: Fox Deportes
• Streaming: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Fox Sports Go

The Seattle Sounders' match in the Club World Cup will be shown in the United States on Fox Sports 2, which is available to stream on fuboTV. The match will also be streamed on the Fox Sports platforms.

Fox Sports also has the Spanish language rights, with a Spanish-language broadcast available on Fox Deportes.

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly betting odds & lines

Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Neds (Australia).