FIFA Club World Cup: How can Messi and Inter Miami qualify for Round of 16 after win vs Porto
Inter Miami clinched a 2-1 win against Porto in their FIFA Club World Cup match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday to stay second in the Group A standings.
With all Group A teams (Inter Miami, Palmieras, Al Ahly and Porto) playing goalless draws in their opening match, it was not mathematically possible for any team to book a place in the Round of 16 on the second matchday.
However, the general calculation is that five points will be enough to secure qualification, and four points might even do it.
Therefore, the win against Porto was crucial for Lionel Messi and Co. as they got to four points. Despite being level on points with topper Palmeiras, Inter Miami stays second due to an inferior goal difference.
Palmeiras kept a clean sheet in its 2-0 win against Al Ahly, while Inter Miami conceded a goal in its win against Porto.
What must Inter Miami do to qualify for Round of 16?
With four points already in the bag, a draw against Palmeiras in its last Group A game will be enough to send Inter Miami through to the knockouts.
It can also qualify with a loss, provided Al Ahly and Porto play out a draw in their last Group A match.
However, if Inter Miami loses against Palmeiras and either Al Ahly or Porto wins, then the various tiebreakers will come into play in deciding who makes it to the next round.
Following are the tiebreakers (in order of preference):
Group points
Head-to-head in the game(s) between the teams in question
Goal difference in the game(s) between the teams in question
Goals scored in the game(s) between the teams in question
Group goal difference
Group goals scored
Disciplinary points (yellow and red cards)
Drawing of lots
This is how Group A looks after Matchday 2
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