Inter Miami CF Clash with Porto: Match Preview, Bold Predictions and Expected Starting Lineups
Group A teams are looking to find their rhythm in Matchday 2 following a scoreless opening round, with both Inter Miami and Porto seeking their inaugural tournament wins when they clash on Thursday.
The arrival of Messi created tremendous excitement in Miami during their Club World Cup debut last weekend, though the Herons were extremely lucky to salvage a draw against Al Ahly. Despite the legendary Argentine's late efforts to make an impact, it was fellow countryman Óscar Ustari who emerged as the star performer.
The Inter Miami shot-stopper delivered a series of brilliant saves and stopped Trézéguet's penalty attempt to prevent his team from starting their campaign with a loss. Nevertheless, they now face a challenging path to reach the knockout phase, with matches against Porto and Palmeiras still to come.
Miami benefited from Porto's draw with the Brazilian outfit, as most European clubs typically need time to find their form during this summer period. The Portuguese team, who had a lackluster 2024–25 campaign, were outplayed in their opening match deadlock.
It was only the exceptional performance of substitute goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos that prevented an energetic Palmeiras from finding the breakthrough.
Here is Sports Illustrated's guide to the game.
What time does Inter Miami vs. Porto Kick-Off?
Inter Miami vs. Porto Miami Head-to-Head Record
This is the first ever competitive fixture between Inter Miami and Porto.
Current Form (All Competitions)
Inter Miami | Porto |
|---|---|
Al Ahly 0–0 Inter Miami – 6/14/25 | Palmeiras 0–0 Porto – 6/15/25 |
Inter Miami 5–1 Columbus Crew – 6/1/25 | Porto 0–2 Riga – 6/8/25 |
Inter Miami 4–2 CF Montréal – 5/29/25 | Wydad AC 0–1 Porto – 5/31/25 |
Philadelphia Union 3–3 Inter Miami – 5/25/25 | Porto 3–0 Nacional - 5/17/2025 |
Inter Miami 0–3 Orlando City SC – 5/17/2025 | Boavista 1–2 Porto – 5/11/25 |
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Porto on TV
Country | Channel |
|---|---|
United States | DAZN, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, Watch TNT, TUDN App, TNT USA, truTV USA, TUDN USA, UniMás |
United Kingdom | DAZN |
Canada | DAZN |
Mexico | DAZN, tabii |
Inter Miami Team News
Javier Mascherano will maintain his attacking setup centered around Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. Despite being held scoreless against Al Ahly, Miami arrived at the tournament with impressive offensive statistics.
Sergio Busquets will anchor the midfield alongside promising talent Federico Redondo. Meanwhile, Jordi Alba remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, along with Yannick Bright and Gonzalo Lujan.
Haitian striker Fafà Picault is expected to return to Mascherano's squad after completing international commitments, while David Ruiz has resumed training following his hamstring recovery.
Ustari earned his starting role in the opener only because Drake Callender is dealing with a hernia, and Miami's primary keeper is anticipated to be unavailable for the entire competition.
Inter Miami Predicted Lineup vs. Porto
Inter Miami Predicted Lineup vs. Porto (4-4-2): Ustari; Weigandt, Falcón, Martínez, Allen; Picault, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suárez.
Porto Team News
Porto announced that first-choice keeper Diogo Costa was absent from their Palmeiras encounter due to a groin strain, and he's unlikely to be rushed back after Ramos impressed in the opening fixture.
Marko Grujic represents the only other significant injury concern, with the midfielder excluded from Martín Anselmi's roster because of a hamstring setback.
The Porto manager is expected to rotate his squad for Thursday's encounter. Stephen Eustáquio and Pepê might earn starting positions, while Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira and Gabri Veiga could find themselves on the bench.
Porto Predicted Lineup vs. Inter Miami
Porto Predicted Lineup vs. Inter Miami (3-4-2-1): Ramos; Fernandez, Pedro, Marcano; Mário, Eustáquio, Varela, Moura; Pepê, Mora; Samu.
Inter Miami vs. Porto Score Prediction
Porto faced difficulties against an intense and dynamic Palmeiras team that successfully disrupted their possession-based approach from the start. Anselmi's squad failed to establish any flow in the match, with the Brazilians gaining an advantage from entering the competition in peak midseason condition.
Miami are also in the middle of their domestic campaign, but we shouldn't anticipate Mascherano's team creating the same problems that Palmeiras presented in the first round. They lack the same tactical discipline without the ball, and Porto should find their groove in Miami.
There is, naturally, the Messi element, and the Miami skipper could potentially decide the outcome against the Portuguese club. However, the Herons are likely to struggle as a unit and Messi alone won't be sufficient to avoid defeat in this encounter.