By Sama Marwan ,
The American club Inter Miami and Portuguese side Porto have announced their official starting line-ups for their highly anticipated clash, scheduled for 10:00 PM on Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as part of Group A Matchday 2 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Inter Miami Starting Line-Up:
Goalkeeper: Óscar Ustari
Defenders: Marcelo Weigandt, Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Benjamin Cremaschi, Tadeo Allende
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Telasco Segovia
Porto Starting Line-Up:
Cláudio Ramos, Fernández, Zé Pedro, Marcano, João Mário, Alan Varela, Gabri Veiga, Francisco Moura, Fábio Vieira, Rodrigo Mora, Samu
Inter Miami vs Porto – Match Context
In Matchday 1, Inter Miami drew 0-0 against Al Ahly, while Porto also drew 0-0 with Palmeiras. As a result, all four teams in Group A are currently level on points and goals.
Both Inter Miami and Porto are seeking a vital three points in this match to keep their hopes of reaching the Round of 16 alive. Any result other than a win for either side will significantly reduce their chances of advancing in the tournament.
Post-Match Controversy: Mascherano’s Remarks
Comments by Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami’s head coach, after the draw with Al Ahly sparked outrage among the American club’s fans, according to the Spanish newspaper Sport.
Mascherano stated that Inter Miami’s performance doesn’t match the level of top clubs in the Club World Cup, such as Manchester City (home to Egyptian star Omar Marmoush), Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. These remarks angered fans, especially considering the team includes legends like Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets.
Missed Opportunity Against Al Ahly
Despite their star power, Inter Miami failed to defeat Al Ahly, a team that lost one of its key players, Emam Ashour, just 13 minutes into the match due to a serious shoulder injury. This further disappointed fans, as it highlighted Inter Miami’s struggles even when facing a weakened opponent.
Sport also mentioned that Inter Miami barely avoided a heavy defeat, and that had they faced a top-tier team, the result could have been worse, due to the lack of sharpness in Al Ahly’s finishing.
Doubts Over Porto’s Goalkeeper
There are uncertainties surrounding Porto’s first-choice goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who missed the opening match against Palmeiras. According to the Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Costa’s participation against Inter Miami remains in doubt, which could mean his absence continues.
