Over the past 20 years, the global incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has increased dramatically, affecting more than 30% of the global population. Meanwhile, over the past 40 years, the global incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has also grown by 140%. In addition, previous studies have indicated that various forms of liver inflammation are closely associated with the occurrence and development of ICC. This suggests that MAFLD may play an important role in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of ICC. This article aims to summarize the current research status of MAFLD-related ICC, review the shortcomings in existing studies, and outline future research directions to provide a foundation for further exploration and in-depth study in this field.