NFL
By Keith Richards
We now know what the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is about. Additionally, we know (except for one) which clubs will participate. Now, we will take the time to get to know each team and the groups in which they will play. We start with Group A.
To get to know each team in each group, we will examine their club history and how the club is currently performing in their respective domestic leagues. Afterward, we will pick which two teams will advance to the Knockout Stage. Enough talking already! Let’s discuss Group A!
SE Palmeiras – Brazilian Série A
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, better known as SE Palmeiras, is a powerhouse of Brazilian soccer clubs. They are arguably the best team in Group A. In addition, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will allow Palmeiras to stake their claim as one of the best clubs in the world. Palmeiras will look to assert the same dominance over Group A as it has over Brazilian Série A over the past decade.
Between 2014 and 2024, Palmeiras was the Brazilian Football Champion four times. They were also the runner-up twice and finished third on two other occasions. In other words, in the last 11 seasons in Brazilian Série A, Palmeiras was in the top three of the league six times. Yeah, they’re pretty good.
For those who follow Brazilian Série A, the decade is not surprising. Indeed, Palmeiras has been the champion 12 times in the league’s history and the runner-up five times. Only three clubs (Santos, São Paulo, and Internacional) have been the runner-up more. Since 1960, Palmeiras has won a championship in every decade except for two. The club did not win a title in the 1980s or the 2000s. Therefore, their reputation as one of the best clubs in South American football is justified.
As of May 4th, Palmeiras is the number one team in the CONMEBOL club rankings. They were the runner-up in Brazilian Série A in 2024, but they were the Brazilian Football Champions in 2022 and 2023. Seven matches into league play, Palmeiras leads Brazilian Série A with 16 points. Bragantino also has 16 points, but Palmeiras has the better goal difference.
As I’ve said several times, Palmeiras is one of the best South American clubs. Nevertheless, the same cannot be said about the club’s reputation worldwide. The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) ranks Palmeiras as the 26th best club in the world, which is the best rank of the Group A clubs. 26th is not bad, but Palmeiras would like it to be better.
So, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is a big opportunity for Palmeiras. A strong performance in a strong Group A would go a long way in improving their position in the IFFHS rankings. However, there are three other teams in Group A that will have something to say as well.
FC Porto – Primeira Liga
Of the four clubs in Group A, FC Porto is the oldest. Like the two other clubs in Group A, FC Porto has recently achieved success in its league. When it comes to the FIFA Club World Cup, success equals championships. Therefore, when we say success, we mean championships. In Primeira Liga, FC Porto is a member of Os Três Grandes: Portugal’s three most powerful clubs.
Primeira Liga was founded in 1934. Only five teams have held the Primeira Liga title since its inception. Belenenses won in the 1945-46 season, and Boavista won in the 2000-01 season. Enter Os Três Grandes: Benfica, FC Porto, Sporting CP. Os Três Grandes hold all of the other championships in Primeira Liga history. Benefica has 38, FC Porto has 30, and Sporting CP has 20. Consequently, when it comes to Portuguese club football, FC Porto is amongst the elite.
Over the last ten seasons, FC Porto has been league champion three times (2017-18, 2019-20, and 2021-22). Furthermore, Porto finished third three times and second five times. Much like Palmeiras, FC Porto is looking for a strong performance in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to increase its standing among clubs on the world stage.
Today, Porto is out of the race for the Primeira Liga title. Moreover, they’re in danger of finishing outside the top three. FC Porto is currently in third place but has a match in hand. Their fate is essentially in their own hands. As we speak, Braga could equalize and get a point off Casa Pia, which would drop Porto back to fourth. If Casa Pia loses and both teams win out, it’s advantage FC Porto, but only if they maintain goal difference.
As of the 2023-24 season, the most recent complete season in UEFA, Primeira Liga is the seventh-best league. Because of that, FC Porto ranks 68th in the IFFHS rankings. By their standards, it’s been a poor 2024-25 season for Porto, and they could fall even further in the rankings.
If FC Porto wants to improve its IFFHS rankings, much like Palmeiras, a strong performance in Group A would go a long way. Even better would be an unexpected deep run in the tournament.
Al Ahly FC – Egyptian Premier League
Of the four clubs in Group A, Al Ahly FC is the most successful. While FC Porto is a few years older than Al Ahly, the football club from Cairo, Egypt, has the advantage in terms of titles won. Since the club was founded in 1907, it has been the most successful club in Africa. It’s not close either.
The Egyptian Premier League was founded in 1948, so based on the math, there have been 65 seasons in its history. Zamalek has won 14 titles, and Ismaily has three. Tersana, Ghazl El Mahalla, El Olympi, and Al Mokawloon are all tied with one championship each. 14 plus three plus four equals 21. Can you see where we’re going? If those clubs have won 21 of the 65 Egyptian Premier League titles, who has won the other 44? Al Ahly FC.
Ah Ahly has won the title seven times in the past ten seasons. Zamalek won in the 2014-15, 2020-21, and 2021-22 seasons. Al Ahly’s ten-year dominance of the Egyptian Premier League includes a stretch where they won the title five straight times. It’s something the other teams in Group A cannot claim.
IFFHS ranks Al Ahly as the 32nd best club in the world. As of today, Al Ahly is in a position to win its 45th Egyptian Premier League title, but Pyramids will not make it easy. With five matches played in the Championship Round, Al Ahly FC is only two points ahead of Pyramids. However, all things must be considered when it comes to championships and rankings.
While Al Ahly FC is the number one-ranked club in CAF, it is only the 46th-ranked club with IFFHS. Yes, Al Ahly FC has dominated the Egyptian Premier League, but that league is only the 16th-best league in the world (according to IFFHS). Of the three clubs we’ve covered so far, Al Ahly has the most to prove. They need a strong performance in Group A and the Club World Cup to prove they’re not just big fish in a small pond. Still, one team has more to prove than any other club in Group A.
Inter Miami CF – Major League Soccer (United States)
Inter Miami is many things when you compare them to the other clubs of Group A. They’re the youngest, the least experienced, and most polarizing in their domestic league. Conversely, there is one thing Inter Miami CF is not. It is not the best team in Group A. I’ll take it one step further. Miami is the worst club in Group A.
Inter Miami became the 25th MLS franchise in 2018. Miami would play in its first MLS match in 2020. Until a couple of years ago, that covers the highlights for Inter Miami in MLS. Here’s a recap of Miami’s first three seasons in MLS:
- 2020 – 10th in Conference, 19th overall
- 2021 – 11th in Conference, 20th overall
- 2022 – 6th in Conference, 12th overall (their best season)
It wasn’t until midway through the 2023 season that things would change for Inter Miami.
On June 1, 2023, with the club in last place, Inter Miami announced it would part ways with head coach Phil Neville. Four days later, the greatest footballer in history, Lionel Messi, announced that he planned to sign with the worst club in MLS. In just a week, Miami went from the least interesting club in MLS to the most intriguing. Messi, the GOAT, coming to one of the world’s least respected professional football leagues, took the football world by storm.
Just one month later, Inter Miami officially signed Messi and his former teammate Sergio Busquets. Five days after that, the club would sign another former teammate of Messi, Jordi Alba. Two months after the trio came to MLS, Inter Miami won its first-ever trophy after defeating Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final. Miami finished 14th in the Conference and 27th overall in the 2023 season. Still, things were looking up for Miami heading into 2024. Unfortunately, the 2024 season did not play out as expected.
On the bright side, Inter Miami did win the 2024 Supporters’ Shield in MLS, which is given to the team with the most points in the regular season. The joy would end there. Inter Miami was knocked out of the MLS Cup Playoffs in the first round by Atlanta United. Furthermore, they would lose in the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Fast forward to now. Inter Miami was granted the host nation slot of the MLS Cup Champions, LA Galaxy, which continues to be controversial. IFFHS ranks Inter Miami as the 236th best club globally and MLS as the 49th best league. Inter Miami is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference of MLS and sixth overall.
On Saturday, they were spanked by Minnesota United FC, 4-1. It would be a miracle for Miami to make it out of this group. While they may have the greatest player ever, they are far from the most outstanding team in the world. This tournament could be a bad look for Inter Miami and Lionel Messi.
The Prediction
I will take SE Palmeiras and FC Porto to move on to the Knockout Stage. Porto and Al Ahly will be the teams in the best form because their seasons are winding down. In fact, their seasons will be over by the time the tournament begins. Inter Miami’s season is about a third of the way through. Palmeiras is just barely getting started. They will be the freshest team, which is a significant advantage. It will be competitive between FC Porto and Al Ahly for second place in the group, but I think Porto edges them out. I don’t think Miami wins a match at all.
Who do you think will make it out of the group? Let us know!
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