Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly time, TV channel, live stream, lineups, betting odds for FIFA Club World Cup

Kyle Bonn

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly time, TV channel, live stream, lineups, betting odds for FIFA Club World Cup image

The Seattle Sounders will become the first Major League Soccer side to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup as they take on Egyptian club Al Ahly in Morocco on Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Still yet to start their domestic season, the CONCACAF Champions League holders enter the competition as the North American continental champions.

They meet "host nation" Al Ahly, who qualified in a roundabout manner but are still a formidable opponent. Because Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca qualified directly as CAF Champions League winners, the CAF Champions League runners-up Al Ahly took their host nation slot.

Al Ahly are top of the Egyptian Premier League table, without a single defeat in the season's first 15 matches. They defeated Oceania champions Auckland City 3-0 to advance into the quarterfinals, where the Sounders await. The winner of this match will get a coveted date with world renowned club Real Madrid, as the European participant.

LIVE BLOG: Follow the Sounders vs Al Ahly match live with highlights, commentary, analysis, and more

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.

MORE: A complete look at the Club World Cup 2023 bracket, format, results, and more

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly confirmed lineups & team news

Seattle played in a pair of preseason friendlies in Spain before jetting over to Morocco, and they deployed what was 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 confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Frei (GK) — A. Roldan, Y. Gomez, Ragen, Nouhou — Rusnak, Atencio — C. Roldan, Lodeiro, Morris — Ruidiaz.

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, but does not start today, as instead it's South African striker Percy Tau who gets the nod. Attacking midfielder Amr El Soulia 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 confirmed starting lineup (4-5-1): El Shenawy (GK) — Hany, Metwalli, Abdelmonem, Maaloul — Kharaba, Fathi, Dieng, El Solia, T. Mohamed — Tau.

Seattle Sounders vs Al Ahly betting odds & lines

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

The Seattle Sounders, as the "higher" seed (being from the North American confederation), are considered favorites in this match, but certainly not by much, if at all. Both teams sport plus odds on the moneyline, and both are below 2/1.

Sports books seem completely unclear as to how this match will play out, given the two completely different universes the two clubs hail from. Complicating matters is the fact that Seattle have not yet begun their league season, meaning there is little to pull from in terms of recent results.

MORE: Why are referees using microphones for VAR decisions at the Club World Cup?

  Caesars Sports
Interaction
SkyBet Neds
Seattle win +160 +155 6/4 2.45
Draw +220 +220 21/10 3.00
Al Ahly win +190 +170 13/8 2.65
Both teams
to score Y / N
-115 / -115 4/5, 10/11 1.83 / 1.87
Over / Under
2.5 goals
+120 / -150 11/10, 4/6 2.10 / 1.68
Seattle -0.5 +155
Al Ahly +0.5 -195

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.