Soccer <\/p>\n
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. \u2013 With the entire planet watching, Inter Miami CF<\/a> are making Major League Soccer proud at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Herons\u2019 historic showing at the prestigious tournament reached new heights on Monday night, thanks to a 2-2 draw<\/a> with Brazil\u2019s Palmeiras that secured the first-ever knockout stage berth for an MLS side.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very important that the team was able to compete at this level,\u201d said Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/a>, the man of the match with a 1g\/1a performance highlighted by a stunning individual goal, after the final whistle at Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve left our mark as a competitive team. I think this is good for us to see where the limit really is for MLS. This is the message that we\u2019re giving.\u201d<\/p>\n Su\u00e1rez\u2019s teammates shared his sentiments, with fellow goal scorer Tadeo Allende<\/a> highlighting Miami\u2019s unbeaten Group A run that included a 2-1 comeback win<\/a> over Portuguese powerhouse Porto FC.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a great achievement for the club,\u201d said Allende, who opened the score on a lethal counterattack in the 16th minute. \u201cTo be able to compete in a competition of this magnitude is incredible for its history, and beating a European team and having competed the way we did is very important.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Now, the Herons will face arguably the biggest European opponent of them all in Sunday’s Round of 16 match: reigning UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to take advantage of this opportunity to compete and measure ourselves against the team that just won the Champions League,\u201d said Allende. \u201cJust for the simple fact of competing, for ourselves as players but for the group as well.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Miami have every intention of going toe-to-toe with a powerful PSG side that topped Group B after Monday\u2019s 2-0 win<\/a> over Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll take it seriously,\u201d said head coach Javier Mascherano. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll try to play a great game to see what our chances are. Anything can happen in a soccer game and maybe Sunday will be our day.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Sunday\u2019s showdown with PSG will also reunite Lionel Messi<\/a> with his most recent club before his transformative July 2023 arrival in Miami.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what he\u2019s [Messi] thinking for sure, but I think it\u2019s a special match for the team,\u201d said defender Noah Allen. \u201cA historic match, especially being in the Round of 16, you know, the pressure of the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I think it will be a big match.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Whatever happens Sunday, Miami have already surpassed expectations at the Club World Cup, advancing out of one of the tournament’s toughest groups and earning the respect of opponents and critics alike.<\/p>\n “We’re proven against the teams we’ve faced, to me we’ve been superior,” said left back Jordi Alba<\/a>, who’s made two appearances off the bench in the competition.<\/p>\n “… When the opening whistle blows [on Sunday], we’ll try to beat them [PSG], which is what we’re all trying to do here.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nPSG up next<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Messi reunion<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Historic showing<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n