Inter Miami, at the top

With qualification for the round of 16 at stake, Inter Miami will face Palmeiras today in the final match of Group A of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Both teams have four points, while Porto and Al-Ahly each have one. The winner will secure first place in the group, but a draw also qualifies both teams, with the Brazilians leading the group due to their superior goal difference.

A defeat would force both Inter Miami and Palmeiras to rely on the result between the Portuguese and Egyptian teams, who will play at the same time. The American team needs Al-Ahly to either not win or surpass them on goal difference. For the Brazilians, the risk lies in a Porto victory.

"A draw ensures both teams advance," said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, who specified that his team will rely on the result: "We won't do that because we don't know how to do it. Obviously, we'll take whatever risks are necessary," he explained.

The match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami team drew 0-0 with Al-Ahly in the tournament's opening match. They also defeated Porto 2-1 there with a Lionel Messi free kick.

Mascherano emphasized the level of the opponent, describing them as "a team that can vary their style of play a lot" and with "top-flight players." He asserted that it's a "mix between the grit of Al-Ahly and a top-flight team like Porto."

Atlético de Madrid needs to beat Botafogo by three goals today to advance to the round of 16.

A three-way tie with Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazilian club would require a goal difference between the three teams. PSG would secure qualification if they beat the Seattle Sounders. The Brazilian club has a goal difference of +2, while the Colchoneros have a -2.

Diego Simeone, the Rojiblancos' coach, is unlikely to make many changes to the starting lineup, except to cover for the injury-hit José María Giménez. Clément Lenglet and Robin Le Normand will form the central defense. In attack, he will start with Argentines Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone, and Norwegian Alexander Sorloth, all of whom have yet to score.— EFE