The highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup match between Inter Miami and Porto is set to take place on Thursday, June 19, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 EDT local time (12:00 PST, 19:00 GMT, 21:00 CEST). This fixture is effectively a must-not-lose encounter for both teams, as a defeat in this second group stage match would significantly increase pressure ahead of their final group fixture. Al Jazeera Sport will provide comprehensive build-up coverage starting at 11pm (16:00 GMT).

Both Inter Miami and Porto come into this match having secured a single point from their opening group stage games, both ending in goalless draws. Inter Miami, representing the host nation, commenced their tournament with a 0-0 stalemate against Egyptian giants Al Ahly at their home ground, the Hard Rock Stadium. While Al Ahly dominated the first half, Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, found their rhythm in the second. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was crucial, saving a penalty from Al Ahly's Trezeguet just before half-time. Messi himself came close to a late winner, hitting the post.

Porto also played out a 0-0 draw against Brazilian club Palmeiras at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey – a venue slated to host both the Club World Cup and FIFA 2026 World Cup finals. Palmeiras registered 17 shots with five on target, compared to Porto's 11 shots with five on target, highlighting the defensive challenge Porto faced.

Inter Miami's qualification for the Club World Cup was not without controversy. They secured their spot by recording the most points in Major League Soccer's (MLS) regular season, surpassing LA Galaxy, who had won the MLS Cup. FIFA confirmed Miami's inclusion in October after they achieved an MLS record 74 points with a 6-2 victory over New England Revolution. Key forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were instrumental in their record-breaking MLS season.

Porto, on the other hand, qualified through the UEFA ranking pathway, a result of their strong performances in the Champions League between 2021 and 2024. The 30-time Portuguese league champions boast a rich European history, having won the European Cup in 1987 and the Champions League in 2004. This season, they finished 11 points behind champions Sporting Lisbon in their domestic league.

Ahead of the match, Porto's Argentinean defender, Alan Varela, commented on Inter Miami, stating, “I watched the match between Miami and Al Ahly. I saw that they are two very tough opponents with a lot of intensity.” Regarding his compatriot Messi, Varela added, “Inter have the best player in the world, so we’re going to try to play and fight until the end, just like we did [against Palmeiras] and just like the club demands. The group is wide open, there is a long way to go. There are still two matches, so we’re going to try to get the victory in each.” Porto's goalkeeper Claudio Ramos, named Player of the Match against Palmeiras, is expected to be a key figure once again.

Former England international David Beckham holds a significant role at Inter Miami as a co-owner. His path to ownership began with a clause in his Major League Soccer contract during his playing spell with LA Galaxy, which granted him the option to purchase a future MLS franchise. Beckham exercised this option in 2014, acquiring a $25 million stake in what would become Inter Miami. The Miami-based franchise debuted in 2020 and is also co-owned by American business magnates Jorge and Jose Mas, with Beckham serving as the public face of the club.

This upcoming match marks the first-ever meeting between the MLS franchise and the Portuguese giants. Both teams are expected to field largely unchanged lineups from their opening fixtures. Inter Miami reports no new injuries and is likely to start with Ustari, Fray, Aviles, Falcon, Allen, Allende, Redondo, Busquets; Segovia, Messi, and Suarez. For Porto, stand-in goalkeeper Claudio Ramos will start again, deputising for injured captain Diogo Costa. Porto's potential starting lineup includes Ramos, Fernandes, Pedro, Marcano, Joao Mario, Varela, Veiga, Moura, Vieira, Mora, and Samu.