Lionel Messi and Inter Miami hold their Club World Cup fate in their own hands as they meet Brazilian giants Palmeiras in Miami on Monday night.
While both teams sit in qualifying places coming into the day, they are in very precarious positions. A draw would see both teams qualify for the knockout stages, but a potential loser in this match would be vulnerable to being caught by the winner of Porto vs. Al Ahly below them.
Having upset European side Porto last time out, the Herons are in a position few thought possible for the MLS club at the onset of the competition — being in control of their knockout-stage destiny heading into the final match.
Yet a significant challenge remains across these last 90 minutes. They face a Palmeiras side who have won four Brazilian league titles in the last decade, and have two Copa Libertadores triumphs in the last five years alongside that.
The Sporting News is following the Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
JUMP TO: Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | Standings | How to watch where you are
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras score
| Score (Pregame) | Goal scorers | |
| Inter Miami | – | – |
| Palmeiras | – | – |
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Starting lineups (predicted):
Inter Miami (4-4-2, right to left): Ustari (GK) — Weigandt, Allen, Falcon, Fray — Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia — Messi, Suarez
Palmeiras (4-3-3, right to left): Weverton (GK) — Glay, Gomez, Cerqueira, Piquerez — Rios, Veiga, Martinez — Estevao, Roque, Torres
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Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras live updates, highlights from Club World Cup
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Before we look ahead to this match, it’s worth looking back at Lionel Messi’s trademark free-kick goal he scored against Porto to help give the Herons a famous win.
Last #FIFACWC game Messi did this 😱 @InterMiamiCF looks to advance past Group A when they take on Palmeiras at 9pm ET on DAZN. pic.twitter.com/9eanECWPIZ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 23, 2025
2 hours to kickoff: This match represents one of those curious situations in group-stage knockout football where both teams would qualify with a draw, but going for a victory would be risky because defeat could mean elimination.
Even if there’s no outright conspiracy, a low-scoring affair will call into question each side’s motivation to go for a win! Topping your group comes with the benefit of being seeded, so there’s more of a reason for Inter Miami to take some risks, but even so, qualifying second isn’t enough of a punishment to force them out of their shell.
Palmeiras and Inter Miami players tonight, waiting for the referee to blow the whistle so they can both qualify together. pic.twitter.com/IDsh4lPymT
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 23, 2025
Club World Cup Group A standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | Points | W-D-L | Goal Diff. | GF-GA |
| 1. | Palmeiras | 2 | 4 | 1-1-0 | +2 | 2-0 |
| 2. | Inter Miami | 2 | 4 | 1-1-0 | +1 | 2-1 |
| 3. | Porto | 2 | 1 | 0-1-1 | -1 | 1-2 |
| 4. | Al Ahly | 2 | 1 | 0-1-1 | -2 | 0-2 |
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras kick off time
This Club World Cup group stage match kicks off from Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, June 23 at 9 p.m. local time in Miami, FL. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 23 | 9 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Sat, Jun. 15 | 9 a.m. PT |
| UK | Tue, Jun. 24 | 2 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Tue, Jun. 24 | 1 p.m. AEST |
| India | Tue, Jun. 24 | 6:30 a.m. IST |
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras lineups, team news
While Inter Miami have built their team around Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the rest of the attack is extremely thin in terms of a supporting cast. MLS veteran Fafa Picault is back with the Herons after playing for Haiti in their two World Cup qualifiers earlier this month, departing before the Gold Cup to instead play in the Club World Cup.
Starting goalkeeper Drake Callender has been dealing with a hernia for months and is unlikely to participate in this competition at all after having surgery. Backup Oscar Ustari recovered from a precautionary exit from a late May MLS game and will continue in goal after starring in the team’s first two matches.
Versatile midfielder David Ruiz is back after a muscle issue but only training on his own, as is Yannick Bright. Jordi Alba has returned from his own hamstring injury and could be in line for his first start of the Club World Cup after coming off the bench against Porto. Almost certainly out is Gonzalo Lujan, who have been absent from training due to hamstring complaints.
Inter Miami projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Ustari (GK) — Weigandt, Allen, Falcon, Fray — Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia — Messi, Suarez
Inter Miami subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Palmeiras have multiple Brazil internationals in their squad, including 18-year-old Chelsea-bound winger Estevao and midfielder Raphael Veiga. Also along the back line is Paraguay veteran Gustavo Gomez who boasts 81 caps for his national team.
They also sport former Barcelona striker Vitor Roque who signed from the La Liga giants last winter and has scored just three goals for the club in that time.
Midfielder Anibal Moreno suffered a thigh injury in their 2-0 win over Al Ahly last time out and could be replaced by Emiliano Martinez. Winger Bruno Rodrigues has a knee problem and has not appeared all season, while 19-year-old midfielder Figueiredo is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Palmeiras projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Weverton (GK) — Glay, Gomez, Cerqueira, Piquerez — Rios, Veiga, Martinez — Estevao, Roque, Torres
Palmeiras subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | TBS, truTV | DAZN, Sling |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | Channel 5 | DAZN |
| Australia | — | DAZN, Kayo Sports, Foxtel |
| India | — | DAZN, tabii |
