Club World Cup scenarios: How Inter Miami can advance from Group A

Fresh off a historic victory over Portuguese giants FC Porto, Inter Miami CF are chasing a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16.

It all comes down to Monday evening's Group A finale against storied Brazilian side Palmeiras, held at Hard Rock Stadium (9 pm ET | DAZN.com).

Here's what awaits the Lionel Messi-led Herons, who will face a Group B opponent on June 28 or 29 if they make the knockout rounds.

Club World Cup schedule

The top two teams per group reach the Club World Cup 2025 knockout stages.

If two or more teams in the same group finish with equal points, the following criteria, in the order outlined below, will determine who advances:

1. Head-to-head in game(s) between the teams concerned
2. Goal differential in game(s) between the teams concerned
3. Goals scored in game(s) between the teams concerned
4. Goal differential in all group matches
5. Goals scored in all group matches
6. Disciplinary record (yellow and red cards)
7. Drawing of lots

Standings: Group A first place (4 points, +2 GD)

Next: Monday vs. Inter Miami (9 pm ET | DAZN.com)

Scenarios:

• Win: Qualify as Group A winners
• Draw: Qualify as Group A winners
• Lose: Only eliminated if FC Porto beat Al Ahly and goal differential is made up

Results so far:

• 0-0 draw vs. Porto
• 2-0 win vs. Al Ahly

Country: Brazil

How they qualified: 2021 Copa Libertadores winners

Standings: Group A second place (4 points, +1 GD)

Next: Monday vs. Palmerias (9 pm ET | DAZN.com)

Scenarios

• Win: Qualify as Group A winners
• Draw: Qualify as Group A runner-up
• Lose: Only eliminated if Al Ahly beat FC Porto and goal differential is made up

Results so far:

• 0-0 draw vs. Al Ahly
• 2-1 win vs. Porto

Country: USA

How they qualified: Host country spot

Standings: Group A third place (1 point, -1 GD)

Next: Monday vs. Al Ahly (9 pm ET | DAZN.com)

Scenarios

• Win: Qualify as Group A runner-up if combined with Palmeiras loss and goal differential is made up
• Draw: Eliminated
• Lose: Eliminated

Results so far:

• 0-0 draw vs. Palmeiras
• 2-1 defeat vs. Inter Miami

Country: Portugal

How they qualified: Ranking pathway (UEFA)

Standings: Group A fourth place (1 point, -2 GD)

Next: Monday vs. Porto (9 pm ET | DAZN.com)

Scenarios

• Win: Qualify as Group A runner-up if combined with Inter Miami loss and goal differential is made up
• Draw: Eliminated
• Lose: Eliminated

Results so far:

• 0-0 draw vs. Inter Miami
• 2-0 defeat vs. Palmeiras

Country: Egypt

How they qualified: 2020-21, 2022-23 & 2023-24 CAF Champions League winners