Inter Miami advances to Club World Cup knockout round with draw vs. Palmeiras

MIAMI GARDENS — Inter Miami, coming off an upset win against Portuguese club Porto, is not ready to go back to playing its MLS schedule.

Miami secured a spot in the Club World Cup knockout round with a 2-2 draw against Brazilian club Palmeiras at the Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night. With the draw, Inter Miami finished second in the group and will play French powerhouse and reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain — Lionel Messi’s former club — in Atlanta on Saturday.

Tadeo Allende got the ball from Luis Suarez and got behind the Palmeiras defense, breaking for goal and beating opposing goalkeeper Weverton one-on-one. The goal put hometown Inter Miami ahead 1-0 in the 16th minute.

Suarez scored an impressive goal to give Inter an insurance goal in the 65th minute, maneuvering around two Palmeiras defenders before beating goalie Weverton with a left-footed shot.

Inter Miami appeared to be cruising to a victory in the match, which would clinch the group. But Palmerias battled back, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes. Paulinho and Maurico, two substitutes, scored in the 80th and 87th minute, respectively.

Inter Miami nearly had another break on goal in the 28th minute, but Luis Suarez’s shot was blocked by Palmeiras defender Marcos Rocha.

Palmeiras, a Sao Paolo club that finished second in Brazil’s Série A in 2024 after winning the league in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023, had several chances throughout the first half. Inter Miami keeper Oscar Ustari had an early save off a Palmeiras corner, and other solid chances ended up with shots that went wide of the net.

Messi got a yellow card in stoppage time at the half, and Palmeiras kept him from scoring despite an attempt that went just high of the crossbar.

Palmeiras, which currently sits fourth in its league table, had an early opportunity broken up by Inter Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt’s slide tackle.

Allende had an opportunity to score again in the 52nd minute, but his shot went wide of the net. Veteran fullback Jordi Alba, who returned from injury in Miami’s last match, entered the match in the 67th minute.

This story will be updated.