FanSided MLS
·10 Juni 2025
Scouting Messi's Club World Cup opponents Al-Ahly, Porto and Palmeiras

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Yahoo sportsFanSided MLS
·10 Juni 2025
By now you probably know that Inter Miami will be playing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with their opening match set for Saturday night in South Florida.
But it's a safe bet far fewer of you know much about the Herons' opponents.
While most of the attention coming into the competition centers on European powers like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, the tournament is a true World Cup drawing club representation from all six continental federations.
Miami will face one team from Africa, Europe and South America in its Group A itinerary. Read on for their full group schedule and info about their foes.
Al-Ahly-FC-vs-Pharco-FC-Egyptian-Premier-League-24-25 | MOHAMED TAGELDIN/GettyImages
Al Ahly holds 45 Egyptian Premier League titles, 39 Egypt Cup titles, and 15 Egyptian Super Cups, making it the most successful club in Africa.
Al Ahly will have a new head coach, José Riveiro, for the Club World Cup, after Marcel Koller departed last month following the team’s elimination in the CAF Champions League semifinals.
The Red Eagles are no strangers to MLS opponents, having defeated Seattle 1-0 in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.
Boavista FC v FC Porto - Liga Portugal Betclic | Diogo Cardoso/GettyImages
Porto is among the most decorated clubs in Portugal, with 30 Portuguese league titles (including five consecutive wins from 1994–95 to 1998–99 – a national record), 20 Taça de Portugal, four Campeonato de Portugal, and one Taça da Liga.
In international competitions, Porto is the most decorated Portuguese team, with seven trophies. They won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League in 1987 and 2004, the UEFA Cup/Europa League in 2003 and 2011, the UEFA Super Cup in 1987, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1987 and 2004.
Porto went undefeated in two league title seasons (2010–11 and 2012–13). They are part of the Portuguese "Big Three" (alongside Benfica and Sporting CP) and have never been relegated from the Primeira Liga.
Palmeiras v Bolivar - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025 | Sports Press Photo/GettyImages
Palmeiras is Brazil’s most successful domestic club, with: a record 12 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, four Copas do Brasil, one Copa dos Campeões, and one Supercopa do Brasil.
They currently sit fourth in the Brazilian Série A and are through to the Round of 16 in the 2025 Copa Libertadores — a tournament they’ve won three times.
The Verdão also have a strong MLS connection, with former MLS stars Facundo Torres (ex-Orlando City) and Micael (ex-Houston Dynamo) on the roster.
If Inter Miami wins the group, their next match will be played on June 28 in Philadelphia. If they finish second, they will play on June 29 in Atlanta.
In the Round of 16, Inter Miami could face a team from Group B, which includes: Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League winners), Atlético de Madrid (third place in La Liga), Botafogo (South American champions) or another American team, the Seattle Sounders.