Palmeiras mounted a dramatic late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami, securing top spot in Group A and sending both sides through to the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
Inter Miami looked set for a famous victory after first-half strikes from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez gave them a two-goal cushion. However, Palmeiras struck back in the final ten minutes through Paulinho and Mauricio, ensuring a share of the points and preserving their place at the summit of the group on goal difference.
Both teams finish on five points, while Al-Ahly and Porto exit the tournament following a breathless 4-4 draw that was not enough for either to progress.
Lionel Messi’s Miami will now face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages—a highly anticipated reunion for the Argentine star, who spent two seasons at the French club from 2021 to 2023. Palmeiras, meanwhile, face a fierce domestic battle against fellow Brazilian side Botafogo in the round of 16.
“It was a great game from us—it’s difficult to play against one of the best teams in South America,” said Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano, calling it a “historic night” for Major League Soccer.
“Maybe at the end we had the game in our hands so the feeling is strange, but before the start of the tournament, if someone told me we were going to have this kind of performance against these kinds of teams, I would have signed it.”
Inter Miami remain the sole MLS representatives in the tournament’s last 16, after Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders both bowed out in the group stage.
With a crowd overwhelmingly backing Palmeiras, the Brazilian champions started with high pressing intensity but failed to capitalise early due to a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Miami struck first in the 16th minute when Allende powered past a static Palmeiras defence on a 40-metre run before slotting coolly past the keeper. The Argentine midfielder nearly added a second early in the second half, shooting just wide after another blistering counter.
Lionel Messi brought the crowd to its feet shortly after with a stunning dipping volley from distance that narrowly missed the target.
Luis Suárez, quiet for much of the match, made it 2-0 in the 65th minute with a superb finish into the top corner after cutting in on his left foot.
Palmeiras clawed one back through substitute Paulinho in the 80th minute, before Mauricio levelled the tie seven minutes later, capitalising on a loose clearance and rifling home from the edge of the area.
The result capped off a thrilling finale to Group A, with both teams now looking ahead to blockbuster round of 16 encounters.