Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has successfully advanced to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 after a compelling performance in the group stage. Their journey continues as anticipation builds regarding their potential opponents in the next phase. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami is also a team to watch in the competition.
PSG secured their place in the Round of 16 after their victory against Seattle Sounders. As group leaders, PSG now awaits the outcome of Group A to determine their next opponent. The possibilities have narrowed down to two potential clashes: a face-off against Palmeiras or a highly anticipated match against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. According to reports, the winner of Group A will face PSG in the round of 16.
Palmeiras, boasting four points and a superior goal difference, holds a slight advantage. A draw against Inter Miami might be enough for the Brazilians to secure the top spot in Group A. Even a narrow defeat, with at least one goal scored, could potentially suffice depending on tiebreaker scenarios.
Inter Miami, on the other hand, faces a must-win situation to avoid PSG in the next round. A victory by a two-goal margin would guarantee them the top spot. A 1-0 victory could also be enough, but would rely on tie-breaking criteria such as the number of goals scored or even fair play conduct.
Lionel Messi's participation in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is confirmed. Inter Miami secured a spot in the tournament after winning the MLS Supporters' Shield. FIFA granted Inter Miami a spot to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States after winning the MLS Supporters' Shield. Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023, has significantly impacted the team, leading them to win the Leagues Cup and playing a crucial role in their Supporters' Shield-winning campaign.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks the first edition of the expanded tournament, featuring 32 teams. The teams are divided into eight groups of four, competing in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages, commencing with the round of 16 and culminating in the final.
The tournament takes place in the United States across 11 host cities. The tournament will be held from June 14 to July 13, 2025. The expansion of the tournament aims to include the best teams from around the world, providing a more competitive and inclusive representation of global football.
The qualification process for the tournament takes into account the performance of clubs in their respective confederation's club championships over the past four seasons (2021-2024). Points are awarded starting from the group stage, with additional points for advancing to each subsequent stage. For UEFA, the established club coefficient system is used.
UEFA has the most slots with twelve, followed by CONMEBOL with six. AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF each have four slots, while OFC has one slot, and the host association also gets one slot.
As the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 progresses, all eyes will be on PSG and Inter Miami as they navigate their paths through the competition.