FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Group A: Inter Miami vs Porto | Preview and Prediction
This massive Group A encounter at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played between Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami and Portuguese heavyweights Porto on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Here are our preview and prediction for the game.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Group A: Inter Miami CF vs FC Porto | 00:30 IST, June 20
Both teams have played out draws in their opening games and need a win here to keep their Round of 16 hopes alive.
Inter Miami were particularly underwhelming against Egyptian champions Al Ahly in their first group stage game. Al Ahly dominated the first half, and if not for a poorly taken penalty by Trézéguet they could have won the game. While Messi did create chances at the other end, Inter Miami were unable to take advantage of the missed penalty as the game ended goalless.
Inter Miami have a host of injury problems, with Jordi Alba, Gonzalo Luján, Yannick Bright, and David Martínez all missing the opening game. The team thus look to Messi and Suárez even more for inspiration and crucial goals. In the absence of Alba, Luján, and Martínez, Noah Allen is likely to continue at left-back, with Tomás Avilés partnering Maximiliano Falcón in the middle of defence and either Ian Fray or Marcelo Weigandt at right-back
Porto, on the other hand, also drew their opening game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras. With captain and keeper Diogo Costa injured, stand-in keeper Claudio Ramos put on the gloves and performed brilliantly to help his side get a point against an attacking team.
The Dragões boast a solid backline, a talented midfield featuring Alan Varela, Fábio Vieira, and Gabri Veiga, and some promising forwards in Rodrigo Mora and Samu Aghehowa who can definitely hurt Inter Miami. Aghehowa has just had a stellar first season for Porto, having scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 30 league appearances.
Even though Porto are missing Costa in goal, stand-in goalkeeper Ramos did enough in the opening game to give them confidence at the back for the coming games.
Based on the quality of the players, the difference in standard between the two leagues they play in, and their respective forms, Porto are more likely to bag the three points from this encounter — despite the capacity of the ageing Messi and Suárez to trouble their defence.
If they lose this game, Messi’s side could be staring at an early exit from the competition and would have to depend on results elsewhere to have a chance of qualifying for the Round of 16.
Score Prediction: Inter Miami 0–2 Porto
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia