In just three days, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will commence at MetLife Stadium and the opening match will be between Brazilian club, SE Palmeiras and Portuguese club, FC Porto. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will be the first for both teams in the tournament.
Both clubs are participating in Group A for the group stages of the tournament. The four teams featured are SE Palmeiras, FC Porto, Inter Miami and Al Ahly FC. Of the four teams in the group, Palmeiras and Porto are the two teams favored to advance.
SE Palmeiras, one of Brazil’s most decorated teams, having won 12 league titles, will have a tough opponent in FC Porto. SE Palmeiras has the advantage in regards to experience, however, having finished as runner-ups in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup. Palmeiras lost 2-1 to Chelsea with the winning goal coming in the 117th minute. Porto, on the other hand, has never played in the FIFA Club World Cup before.
Despite the difference in experience, both clubs are given roughly similar odds to win the match. This will be the first time the teams have ever faced off head-to-head and will have major implications for the rest of the tournament.
SE Palmeiras currently sit at 4th in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A with a record of seven wins, one draw and three losses. In their most recent match on Jun. 1, they fell to Cruzeiro by a score of 2-1.
FC Porto are currently in 3rd in the Liga Portugal with a record of 22 wins, five draws and seven losses. Their most recent match, on Jun. 8, was a 2-0 loss to Riga.
With both teams coming off of a loss, they are due for a win. However, it is expected to be a low-scoring affair, with around 2 to 3 total goals expected. If one of the teams wins, they will be put into an ideal position to advance forward to the quarter finals stage.
To learn more about SE Palmeiras, read 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Team Spotlight: SE Palmeiras – Meadowlands Media.
To learn more about FC Porto, read 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Team Spotlight: FC Porto – Meadowlands Media.