Following the conclusion of Group A in the FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami CF advanced to the knockout stage as group runners-up with a record of 1 win and 2 draws, while Palmeiras secured the group winner spot via goal difference. The first two matchups for the Round of 16 are now confirmed:
Palmeiras (Group A winners) vs. Botafogo (Group B runners-up) – an all-Brazilian showdown
Paris Saint-Germain (Group B winners) vs. Inter Miami CF (Group A runners-up) – a highly anticipated clash as Lionel Messi prepares to face his former club for the first time in his career.
Messi’s Historic Reunion with PSG
Messi spent two seasons (2021–2023) at PSG, where he won 2 Ligue 1 titles and contributed 32 goals and 36 assists in 75 appearances. Despite starring in Paris, the Argentine icon has never before faced a former team in an official match.
PSG, fresh from their 2024–25 UEFA Champions League triumph (their first-ever European title), enter the Club World Cup as favorites.
All-Brazilian Battle: Palmeiras vs. Botafogo
The other opening knockout fixture pits two Brazilian powerhouses against each other. Palmeiras, the 2024 Copa Libertadores champions, advanced from Group A with a 2–1–0 record, while Botafogo—fresh off a domestic league title—qualified as Group B runners-up. This marks the first Club World Cup meeting between the sides since 2019, when Palmeiras eliminated Botafogo in the semifinals.
