FIFA’s new referee cam provides amazing view of action
USA TODAY Sports’ Safid Deen takes a look at the new camera attached to the referee’s earpiece, giving fans a new perspective.
Sports Pulse
MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are back in action Monday night with a chance to advance to the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage.
Messi is expected to play as Inter Miami faces Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium, with one foot practically in the next round. Inter Miami can advance with a win, draw or a loss – but would need some help with the latter option.
Also playing at the same time in Group A: FC Porto (Portugal) vs. Al Ahly (Egypt) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
If Inter Miami concludes the group stage with a win or draw against Palmeiras, both clubs will advance to the Round of 16. It’s also possible Messi could face one of his former teams – Paris Saint-Germain – in the knockout stage.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s match, including losing scenarios to advance, and stay tuned here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports during both Group A matches.
Inter Miami and Palmeiras play at 9 p.m. ET (10 p.m. in Argentina and Brazil). The Porto-Al Ahly match also begins at the same time.
The Inter Miami-Palmeiras match is available on TBS and TruTV in English, and available to live stream on DAZN. The Porto-Al Ahly match is also available to live stream on DAZN.
Yes, Messi is in the Inter Miami starting lineup for the match.
Is Lionel Messi healthy?
Messi experienced some right thigh discomfort in the second half of Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over FC Porto last Thursday in Atlanta, but he finished the match. Messi also practiced with his Inter Miami teammates before the Palmeiras match.
Messi will turn 38 on June 24, just hours after Inter Miami faces Palmeiras.
How’s this for a juicy Club World Cup storyline? It’s possible Messi could face one of his former teams in the knockout stage. Group B has been decided Monday, before Group A will be settled.
Paris Saint-Germain has won Group B after a 2-0 win over MLS side Seattle Sounders, while Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann scored in the 87th minute to push Brazilian side Botafogo to Group B runner-up.
It’s a disappointing result for Botafogo, which upset PSG 1-0 in their second group-stage match. But both teams will advance.
- Win vs. Palmeiras
- Draw vs. Palmeiras
- Lose vs. Palmeiras, Porto beats Al Ahly
- Scoreless loss to Palmeiras, Al Ahly beats Porto by two or more goals: Al Ahly would break even on goal difference, while Inter Miami would be -1 in this scenario.
- If Inter Miami and Al Ahly are tied on goal difference, the next tiebreakers are: overall number of goals scored and fair play ranking, or number of yellow and red cards. Inter Miami and Al Ahly enter their final group stage matches with four yellow cards each.
- If Inter Miami wins Group A, they would face Botafogo June 28 in Philadelphia.
- If Inter Miami is Group A runner-up, they would face Paris Saint-Germain on June 29 in Atlanta.
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