{"id":23098,"date":"2025-06-28T23:57:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T23:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/23098\/"},"modified":"2025-06-28T23:57:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T23:57:08","slug":"psg-vs-inter-miami-fifa-club-world-cup-team-news-start-time-and-lineups-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/23098\/","title":{"rendered":"PSG vs Inter Miami: FIFA Club World Cup \u2013 team news, start time and lineups | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who:<\/strong> Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami
What:<\/strong> FIFA Club World Cup round of 16
Where:<\/strong> Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When:<\/strong> Sunday, June 30 at 12pm (16:00 GMT)<\/p>\n

How to follow:<\/strong> We\u2019ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport<\/a> from 9am local (13:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.<\/p>\n

FIFA\u2019s Club World Cup serves up a treat in the round of 16 as Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n

The Argentinian international forward joined the French giants, and now first-time European champions, from the club he represented since childhood, Barcelona.<\/p>\n

PSG\u2019s coveted European success was not forthcoming, and Messi headed for new pastures with his 2023 move to Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n

Now, Messi faces a PSG side shorn of many of the Galacticos recruited to seal European glory, but full of youthful exuberance and riding the crest of their Champions League wave.<\/p>\n

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match.<\/p>\n

Why does Messi\u2019s Miami vs PSG carry such weight?<\/p>\n

When PSG meet Inter Miami, it will mark a rare reunion of European football greats, all layered with old loyalties, recent regrets and the chance for Lionel Messi to settle a score.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s game features a compelling contrast of eras \u2013 a PSG side powered by youth and energy fresh off their maiden Champions League title<\/a>, and an Inter Miami team built around ageing-but-iconic former Barcelona stars.<\/p>\n

On the PSG touchline, Luis Enrique comes face to face with four players he once led at Barcelona: Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.<\/p>\n

They are all now reunited under Miami coach Javier Mascherano, another figure from Luis Enrique\u2019s treble-winning era at Camp Nou.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuis Enrique is a phenomenon,\u201d Alba said this week. \u201cI\u2019m excited to see him and will give him a hug, but when the ref blows the opening whistle, we\u2019ll try to beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suarez, now 38, reflected on his former manager\u2019s impact: \u201cI already had a competitive DNA, but he injected even more into me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Lionel Messi during training before the match against PSG [Hannah Mckay\/Reuters]
\nDo the Barcelona contingent have history with PSG?<\/p>\n

In another layer of intrigue, Miami\u2019s contingent of former Barcelona players were all part of 2017\u2019s \u201cRemontada\u201d against PSG.<\/p>\n

That was PSG\u2019s darkest night, when Barca thrashed them 6-1 in Spain after losing 4-0 in Paris in their last-16 Champions League tie.<\/p>\n

That was when Miami\u2019s veterans were at their peak.<\/p>\n

Now, they rely on memory and rhythm, while PSG\u2019s core has been reshaped by a rising generation: Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Vitinha have helped inject fresh energy into Luis Enrique\u2019s system, culminating in a Champions League triumph just weeks ago.<\/p>\n

How did PSG fare in the group stage?<\/p>\n

The Parisian side arrive in Atlanta after a 1\u20130 loss to Brazil\u2019s Botafogo in the group stage, which raised questions about fatigue following a long European season.<\/p>\n

Though PSG remain heavy favourites on paper, that defeat showed cracks in a squad that has played more high-stakes matches than most of their rivals.<\/p>\n

PSG took their group with wins in their opening games against Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders.<\/p>\n

How did Inter Miami fare in the group stage?<\/p>\n

Inter Miami finished second in their group behind Palmeiras with one win and two draws to their name.<\/p>\n

The Messi-inspired 2-1 win against Porto<\/a> was crucial to their progress.<\/p>\n

Can Miami\u2019s Argentina axis take down PSG?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be an honour for me facing a great coach, one of the greatest I\u2019ve had in my career,\u201d said Mascherano of Luis Enrique.<\/p>\n

Now in his first major club coaching role, Mascherano brings an emotional edge and tactical sharpness to a Miami side that, while physically limited by age, can still threaten, especially with Messi in form.<\/p>\n

The Argentina great endured a turbulent two-year stint at PSG after leaving Barcelona in 2021. Though he won domestic silverware, Messi never found peace in Paris and, after his World Cup win in 2022, some fans turned on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t enjoy myself at PSG,\u201d Messi told reporters earlier this year. \u201cIt was a tough period.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mascherano believes that memory still drives him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen something\u2019s stuck in his mind, Messi gives a little extra,\u201d he said this week.<\/p>\n

\"ParisMessi is pictured with PSG teammates including Neymar, Marquinhos, Marco Verratti, Kylian Mbappe, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos after winning the 2023 Ligue 1 title in France [Benoit Tessier\/Reuters]
\nWhat went so wrong for Messi at PSG?<\/p>\n

PSG had made it to the Champions League final and then semifinals in the two seasons prior to Messi\u2019s arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw.<\/p>\n

Instead, they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe\u2019s elite club competition in the last 16 two years running.<\/p>\n

Having to fit in Messi, with his estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($35.2 million) after tax, as well as Neymar and Mbappe, may have increased the star appeal, but it weakened them as a team.<\/p>\n

Towards the end, the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt Messi\u2019s commitment to the cause was not what it should have been.<\/p>\n

Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France.<\/p>\n

His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG\u2019s value as a brand.<\/p>\n

Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear that for us it\u2019s better if he plays angry, because he\u2019s one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,\u201d Mascherano told ESPN.<\/p>\n

How did PSG fare last season?<\/p>\n

PSG\u2019s stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich at the end of last month, which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, completed an incredible treble-winning season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique.<\/p>\n

How did Inter Miami fare last season?<\/p>\n

Miami finished as the club with the most points<\/a> in Major League Soccer\u2019s (MLS) regular season, handing them a place at the Club World Cup instead of LA Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is regarded as the highest prize in the MLS.<\/p>\n

FIFA announced Miami\u2019s addition to the Club World Cup in October after they broke MLS\u2019s regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points, one better than the previous record set by New England in 2021.<\/p>\n

PSG team news<\/p>\n

Ousmane Dembele has just resumed training after overcoming a hamstring injury, but may not even be fit enough for the bench.<\/p>\n

Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola are vying to start with Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in. Youngster Senny Mayulu was selected for the match against Seattle in Dembele\u2019s role.<\/p>\n

Inter Miami team news<\/p>\n

Jordi Alba has returned from injury and will challenge youngster Noah Allen for the left-back position.<\/p>\n

Drake Callender, Gonzalo Lujan and Yannick Bright are all still sidelined. Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will continue to deputise for the former.<\/p>\n

PSG predicted starting lineup:<\/p>\n

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Doue<\/p>\n

Inter Miami predicted starting lineup:<\/p>\n

Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez<\/p>\n

PSG form guide (all competitions):<\/p>\n

W-W-W-L-W<\/p>\n

Inter Miami form guide (all competitions):<\/p>\n

W-W-D-W-D<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter MiamiWhat: FIFA Club World Cup round of 16Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23099,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[1318,50,221,1926,62,67,132,68,72],"class_list":{"0":"post-23098","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-soccer","11":"tag-sport","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us","16":"tag-us-canada"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114763703460450031","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23098\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}