In a dramatic finale to Group A of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami and Palmeiras played out a thrilling 2-2 draw on Monday night that saw both sides advance to the last 16. The result capped off a pulsating encounter that showcased late drama, stunning goals, and the first taste of knockout-round football for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.
Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez put Inter Miami in command with a two-goal cushion, but Palmeiras mounted a furious late comeback, with Paulinho and Mauricio striking in the final 10 minutes to snatch a share of the points and clinch the top spot in the group on goal difference.
With both teams finishing on five points, Palmeiras edged Inter Miami for first place, while Al-Ahly and Porto were eliminated. The draw secures a historic knockout-round berth for Inter Miami, the only MLS club to reach the last 16 after Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders bowed out in the group stage.
In front of a raucous, Palmeiras-heavy crowd that turned the atmosphere at Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium into a pseudo-away game for the hosts, the Brazilian side came out pressing high and looking to impose themselves early. Despite their intensity, however, Palmeiras struggled to find the final pass against a disciplined Miami defense.
Inter Miami struck first in the 16th minute when midfielder Tadeo Allende went on a sensational solo run, surging 40 meters past a static Palmeiras backline before calmly slotting past the keeper to put the hosts in front.
After halftime, Allende nearly doubled his tally with a shot that whistled just wide, while Lionel Messi, largely quiet but dangerous as ever, brought the crowd to its feet with a dipping long-range volley that narrowly missed the crossbar.
It was Suárez, however, who made it 2-0 in the 65th minute. The Uruguayan veteran, who had been subdued for much of the night, showcased his trademark finishing as he cut inside on his left foot and rifled a shot into the top corner from a tight angle.
Just when it appeared Inter Miami would top the group, Palmeiras mounted a resilient response. Substitute Paulinho gave the Brazilian giants life in the 80th minute, curling a low finish into the bottom corner following a slick buildup.
The equalizer came seven minutes later as Mauricio capitalized on a poor Miami clearance and fired home a composed finish from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 and seal top billing in Group A for Palmeiras.
The draw sets up two blockbuster round-of-16 clashes. Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, will now face European champions Paris Saint-Germain — Messi’s former club where he spent two seasons from 2021 to 2023 — in a highly anticipated reunion.
Palmeiras, meanwhile, gear up for an all-Brazilian battle with Botafogo for a place in the quarterfinals.
Inter Miami’s progression means they are the lone MLS representative remaining in the tournament. LAFC and Seattle Sounders were both eliminated in the group stage, further highlighting the magnitude of Miami’s achievement on the global stage.
As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup moves into its knockout rounds, all eyes will be on Messi and Inter Miami, who now face the stiffest of challenges in PSG — but with the momentum of a gutsy group stage behind them.
