Messi and Inter Miami advance to Club World Cup playoffs, Al-Ahly eliminated from the tournament

In the early hours of Tuesday, June 24, the final matches of the third round in Group A of the Club World Cup took place. Two more teams have now secured their spots in the next stage.

Details: Palmeiras and Inter Miami faced off in a direct clash, and a draw would have been enough for both sides to reach the playoffs. That’s exactly how things played out. Inter Miami took the lead, scoring twice to go up 2-0, but the Brazilians staged a late comeback to rescue the result.

The match ended 2-2, leaving both teams with five points and a ticket to the Round of 16. Palmeiras finished first in the group, Inter Miami second.

In the other fixture, Porto and Al-Ahly delivered a real goal fest. The teams traded goals in both halves, with the Portuguese side grabbing a dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute to salvage the match. The final score was a thrilling 4-4.

For the record, Palmeiras will take on Botafogo in the playoffs, while Inter Miami are set to face PSG.

Reminder: Nine contenders for the 2026 World Cup have found themselves on the expanded list of individuals banned from entering the US, as published by Trump.