In a fiercely contested Group A at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Palmeiras clinched the top spot, edging out Inter Miami based on goal difference.
Both teams finished the group stage with five points, but Palmeiras’ superior goal differential of +2 compared to Miami’s +1 secured their advancement to the Round of 16, where they await Botafogo.
Palmeiras, who earned their place in the tournament as the champions of the 2021 Copa Libertadores, kicked off their campaign with a tense 0-0 draw against Porto on June 15.
The Brazilian side bounced back on June 19 with a resounding 2-0 victory over Egyptian champions Al Ahly, despite enduring scorching heat and a weather delay.
An own goal by Al Ahly’s Abou Ali and a counterattack goal from Jose Lopez solidified their control over the match.
In their final group match, Palmeiras led until the 79th minute but conceded a late goal, resulting in a 2-2 draw with Inter Miami.
Despite the late equalizer, Palmeiras retained their group lead due to their superior goal differential.
Inter Miami, the host nation’s representative and the previous winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, began their tournament with a 0-0 draw against Al Ahly.
They made waves in their second match by narrowly defeating Porto 2-1, with notable contributions from Telasco Segovia, who equalized, and a free-kick goal by Lionel Messi.
That victory marked a historic milestone, as Miami became the first MLS team to defeat European opposition in an official competition.
In their final group match against Palmeiras, Miami managed to secure a draw, with Luis Suarez also finding the back of the net.
This set the stage for a thrilling Round of 16 encounter against PSG, Messi’s former club.
Porto, participating in the tournament via UEFA club rankings, endured a challenging group stage.
Their journey started with the same tense 0-0 draw against Palmeiras that marked the beginning of the tournament.
However, their hopes were dashed after a 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami, where Messi’s brilliance played a crucial role.
Porto’s dramatic final match ended in a gripping 4-4 draw with Al Ahly, but it was not enough to clinch qualification, leaving them with only two points and facing elimination.
This performance might put the future of head coach Martin Anselmi in jeopardy.
At the same time, Al Ahly, the record African champions with three out of four African Champions League titles secured between 2021 and 2024, fell short in this international competition.
After their opening draw against Inter Miami, they suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Palmeiras amid challenging weather conditions.
Their final match was a spectacular 4-4 draw with Porto, but despite their efforts, they ended up with only two points in the group stage and were eliminated from the tournament.
As the tournament progresses, Palmeiras and Inter Miami will look to continue their journeys against formidable opponents in the coming rounds.
image source from：extratimetalk
