Excitement continued to build on Thursday during the 2025 Club World Cup, with four notable victories highlighted by a dramatic comeback and a surprising upset as Groups A and B wrapped up their second of three group stage matches.
Group A saw Palmeiras secure victory over Inter Miami, while Group B experienced upheaval. Atlético Madrid kept their hopes alive by defeating the Seattle Sounders, but Botafogo delivered a shocking upset by narrowly edging out PSG, allowing them to progress in the tournament.
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Thursday’s FIFA Club World Cup Results
Palmeiras 2, Al Ahly 0
Palmeiras kicked off the scoring with a unique goal that propelled them to a four-point lead in Group A. After a lucky touch from Al Ahly’s Wessam Abu Ali in the 49th minute, José Manuel López extended the lead in the 59th minute. Palmeiras made the most of their only shot on target from a total of ten attempts, while Al Ahly struggled to capitalize on their eight shots.
Inter Miami 2, Porto 1
Lionel Messi showcased his incredible talent with a stunning free kick, leading Inter Miami to their first Club World Cup victory against Porto. After Porto’s Sam Ageho scored early in the 8th minute, Messi leveled the match and netted the winning goal in the 47th minute, curling it expertly beyond the Porto wall for three points.
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Atlético Madrid 3, Sounders 1
Atlético Madrid quickly took control in their match, though the Sounders managed to keep things competitive for a time. After a strong first-half performance from Atlético, they secured a 2-0 lead. Seattle pulled one back through Albert Rathnack, but Barrios sealed the game for Atlético with a final goal, confirming their superiority on the day.
Botafogo 1, Paris Saint-Germain 0
Group B turned into a thrilling spectacle with Botafogo’s stunning upset of PSG. Botafogo took an early lead with a goal from Igor Jesus in the 36th minute, and despite PSG’s relentless attempts to equalize, they couldn’t penetrate Botafogo’s defense. This victory catapults Botafogo to the top of the group, marking the tournament’s first significant upset.
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Highlights of the Day
Standings of Group A and Group B
Rank | Group A | Record (WDL) | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Palmeiras | 1-1-0 | 2 | 4 |
2 | Inter Miami | 1-1-0 | 1 | 4 |
3 | Porto | 0-1-1 | -1 | 1 |
4 | Al Ahly | 0-1-1 | -2 | 1 |
Rank | Group B | Record (WDL) | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Botafogo | 2-0-0 | 2 | 6 |
2 | PSG | 1-0-1 | 3 | 3 |
3 | Atlético Madrid | 1-0-1 | -2 | 3 |
4 | Seattle Sounders | 0-0-2 | -3 | 0 |
Tomorrow’s Schedule: Friday, June 20th
Group C: Benfica vs. Auckland City at Orlando Inter & CO Stadium. 12 PM on Dazn
Group D: Flamengo vs. Chelsea at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. 2 PM on Dazn/TNT/TruTV
Group D: LAFC vs. Tunis at Geodispark, Nashville. 6 PM on Dazn
Group C: Bayern vs. Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. 9 PM ET on Dazn/TBS
Fan Take: The thrilling outcomes from Thursday’s matches highlight the unpredictability of international club soccer, exciting fans of all teams. With underdogs like Botafogo knocking out giants like PSG, it reinforces the notion that anything can happen, making every match a must-watch.
