What a victory, draw, or defeat against Palmeiras means for Inter Miami in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Inter Miami are set to clash against Palmeiras for Matchday 3 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, with fans wondering which result will favor Lionel Messi’s side to get through the next stage.

Inter Miami are enjoying their run at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and now head into Matchday 3 against Palmeiras with a spot in the knockout stage on the line. In a showdown between the two Group A leaders, fans can expect a thrilling, high-stakes clash with everything still to play for.

Lionel Messi’s side faces the South American powerhouse after a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Al Ahly and a surprising 2-1 win over Porto — the European side many considered favorites to top the group. Despite injuries to Ian Fray and Marcelo Weigandt, head coach Javier Mascherano is expected to field his strongest lineup in hopes of securing the best possible group finish.

Palmeiras, meanwhile, arrive after a dominant performance against Porto that still ended 0-0, followed by a convincing 2-0 victory over Al Ahly. With stars across the pitch and Portuguese manager Abel Ferreira at the helm—one of the architects of their recent success—the Brazilian champions have firmly established themselves as South America’s top club side.

Mascherano praised Palmeiras in his pre-match press conference: “They’re a great team. In recent years, they’ve won the Copa Libertadores, the Brazilian league, and they’re always competing for important things in South America, with a coach who has been at the club for a long time and with high-level, national team-caliber players.”

What happens if Inter Miami win vs. Palmeiras?

If Inter Miami pull off the win, they’ll top Group A and advance directly to the Round of 16. In this scenario, the result of Porto vs. Al Ahly would be irrelevant. Miami would then face the runner-up from Group B, where Botafogo, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are still battling for position.

What happens if Inter Miami draw vs. Palmeiras?

A draw, regardless of the scoreline, would still send Inter Miami through to the next round but as the second-place finisher. With Palmeiras holding a superior goal differential (+2 to Inter Miami’s +1), the Brazilian side would top the group, setting up a tougher path for Messi’s squad as they’d face Group B’s winner.

What happens if Inter Miami lose vs. Palmeiras?

A loss puts Inter Miami in a dangerous position, but elimination wouldn’t be immediate. Sitting second, they would need to watch the outcome of Porto vs. Al Ahly closely. If that match ends in a draw, Inter Miami would still advance. But if Al Ahly win by a wide margin while Inter Miami lose heavily, the MLS side could be knocked out on goals converted.

With both Group A finales scheduled for Monday at 9 PM ET, the stage is set for a dramatic finish. Inter Miami will aim to secure points and avoid relying on results elsewhere, but face their toughest opponent yet — setting up one of the most thrilling finales of the Club World Cup group stage.