At the conclusion of Group A play on June 23, Palmeiras and Inter Miami both had five points, but Palmeiras topped the group on goal differential (+2 vs +1), advancing through to the next round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Porto and Al Ahly each finished with two points and were eliminated.
Palmeiras: Libertadores Champions & Group Winners
Palmeiras earned their spot at this year’s tournament by winning the 2021 Copa Libertadores.
Their group campaign began with a 0-0 draw against Porto on June 15 – a cagey opener.
On June 19, they beat Al Ahly 2-0 despite a weather delay and scorching heat. An own goal by Abou Ali and a counterattack goal by Jose Lopez gave them control.
In the final match, they led until the 79th minute but conceded late – drawing 2-2 with Inter Miami.
That was enough to secure promotion to the next round, equal on points (five) with Miami but higher on goal difference – the Brazilian team with +2, and the American team with +1 – to finish Group A on top.
Waiting for them in the Round of 16 are Botafogo.
Inter Miami: MLS Hosts Grab Second
Inter Miami qualified as the host-nation team, also having won the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
They launched their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Al Ahly on June 15.
On June 19, they caused a stir with a 2-1 over Porto, thanks to a Telasco Segovia equaliser and a Lionel Messi free-kick strike.
That historic win made Miami the first MLS side to beat European opposition in an official competition.
In the finale they drew 2-2 with Palmeiras, Luis Suarez among the goal scorers, and grabbed second place on goal difference, advancing with five points.
Up next for Inter Miami are current UEFA Champions League winners, PSG, Messi’s former club.
Porto: Portuguese Resilience, Knocked Out by Small Margins
Porto earned their spot via UEFA club rankings.
They started with a 0-0 draw against Palmeiras, then fell to Inter Miami 2-1. Messi’s magic proved the difference.
It was a shocking result for Porto, but a historic one for Inter Miami and the MLS.
Their final game was a thrilling 4-4 draw with Al Ahly – a high-scoring exchange but not enough to qualify, leaving them on two points and eliminated.
As a result, Martin Anselmi’s time as head coach is allegedly running out.
Al Ahly: CAF Champions Fall Short at Club World Cup
Egyptian champions Al Ahly are the most successful team on the African continent. They qualified via winning three out of four African Champions League titles between 2021 and 2024.
They began with a 0-0 draw against Inter Miami, then suffered that weather-hit 2-0 loss to Palmeiras.
The Egyptian club’s final game ended in that wild 4-4 draw with Porto.
With only two points to their name by the end of the group stage, Al Ahly bowed out of the Club World Cup at the group stage.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / @odysseyimg
Recording Date: 24.06.2025