Can Inter Miami pull off an upset for the ages?
It seems like just yesterday that we were witnessing the start of the FIFA Club World Cup between Inter Miami and Al Ahly, and yet, the knockout round has already arrived. Palmeiras and Botafogo kicked off proceedings in an all-Brazilian clash in Philadelphia, with Paulinho coming off the bench and scoring the decisive goal for the second straight match to secure Palmeiras’ victory in extra time.
This was followed up by a clash between Benfica and Chelsea in Charlotte, which saw Chelsea take the lead in the 64th minute via Reece James. However, the game was paused for two hours due to lightning in the area, with Angel Di Maria equalizing from the penalty spot at the last second. Chelsea would nevertheless storm back to a 4-1 victory in extra time via goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, setting up a date with Palmeiras in the quarterfinals.
There are quite a few other tantalizing matches like Dortmund vs. Monterrey, Manchester City vs. Al-Hilal, Inter vs. Fluminense, Real Madrid vs. Juventus, and Bayern Munich vs. Flamengo. However, arguably the most compelling match-up from an emotional standpoint will be Inter Miami vs. PSG. And at the same time, it looks set to also be the most lopsided.
When Inter Miami were announced as one of MLS‘ two representatives at the Club World Cup (LAFC would join the list after Leon’s expulsion), many rolled their eyes and groaned at the blatant favoritism. After all, unlike the other 31 teams in the tournament who had to achieve success in international and/or domestic competition, Miami had done no such thing.
Unlike New York City FC, who had won the 2021 MLS Cup, or Columbus Crew, who had won the 2023 MLS Cup, Inter Miami’s only claim to fame was their record-breaking 2024 season which saw them finish with the most points (74) in MLS regular season history before falling to Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs.
It was evident that the only reason why Miami had qualified was because of the fact that they had arguably the greatest player of all time — Lionel Messi — in their roster. And as one of the few players who transcends the sport, Messi had the potential to sell tickets and get people watching the game on their television.
As Miami stumbled towards the end of May following a dismal run of form that saw them concede 16 goals in six matches and fail to keep a clean sheet in 10 straight fixtures, it seemed that FIFA’s gamble was set to blow up in their faces. Instead, Miami have proven that they belong amongst the best teams in world football.
After holding Al Ahly to a 0-0 draw, they pulled off a comeback 2-1 win against Porto before mounting a two-goal lead vs. Palmeiras, only to cough up two late goals and relinquish first place in the group to the Brazilian powerhouse. In a matter of minutes, they went from competing against reigning Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo in Philadelphia to taking on the reigning Champions League winners.
Whereas Miami have grown accustomed to being the favorites since Messi’s arrival, this tournament has seen them play the role of underdogs. Maybe, just maybe, that lessened pressure has helped them uncover their true identity and play with a newfound confidence and hunger.
“What you have to understand is that during a season, it comes down to moments. There are moments that catch you at a good level, and other moments that are not so good. That’s what we have to search for, try to find consistency and not have so many peaks and drops, and become a more reliable team, like we’ve been during this tournament.”
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano stated prior to the match: “In reality, I think we have shown ourselves that if we are committed and believe in ourselves, we can be at the the level of any competition. Perhaps we were besmirched after our defeat to Vancouver in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, all of what we were doing previously was bleared, but the team nevertheless made it to the semis for the first time with very good performances and eliminating a very strong team like LAFC.”
Mascherano, who replaced compatriot Tata Martino as Miami manager following the 2024 season, finalized by saying: “The game vs. PSG is very important, and the most important thing is obviously to win, but it’s also very important how we’re going to face the game. We have taken a step forward in terms of starting to compete, and we know that in this competition, we can’t exactly compete as equals due to the difference in quality.”
Can Miami pull off an upset for the ages vs. PSG? Stay tuned for a thrilling encounter in Atlanta.
By: Zach Lowy / @zachlowy
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / ANP / Getty Images