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26 mins: This time the set-piece produces zilch, as Nuno Mendes hammers a hopeful shot into bodies. Back come the French team, however, their speed of attack unrelenting so far.
25 mins: A bit better from Miami. Telasco Segovia did well to slalom away from PSG challengers, but as the attack fizzles out it only serves to give Kvaratskhelia more space to charge into, winning another free-kick.
It’s in the same spot that the goal came from.
23 mins: I may have to adjust my TV set, but I believe I just saw Lionel Messi engage in some pressing, like actually closing players down.
Kvaratskhelia is the latest PSG player to send a shot just past the post. It’s incredible this is only 1-0.
22 mins: Hakimi has a shot blocked! Blimey that was a lovely pass from Ruiz that totally unlocked the Miami defence. From the resulting corner, Vitinha volleys at goal but it’s well held by Ustari. I think the offside flag went up anyway.
And time for another delay now with Ustari down injured …
20 mins: Avilés’ first act is to be booked for a wildly late challenge. Talk about welcoming yourself to the game.
It’s all gone a bit stop-start now.
19 mins: Allen isn’t going to be able to continue, so Tomás Avilés, who started Inter Miami’s game against Palmeiras, comes on.
17 mins: More good interplay between these PSG players, with Mendes’ threaded pass finding Doué but Ruiz was off balance when he received it from the French youngster.
Noah Allen is down with a hamstring issue for Miami.
Another goal from a set-piece? No, Fabian Ruiz is rightly denied by the offside flag. This time it was the second ball, with Barcola’s header finding the Spaniard to tap home with his head. Inter Miami survive this time.
14 mins: The co-commentator, Don Hutchison, has just called Messi a “grandmaster in a chess game”, presumably referring to the Argentinian’s entire career and not the past few minutes of this game.
Inter Miami simply have to get their star man into the game – if they can grab a brief hold of the football.
12 mins: I’m not sure Lionel Messi has touched the ball yet …
11 mins: We’ve had a slight delay because Kvaratskhelia remained on the turf after a meaty coming-together with Chelo Weigandt. Not a huge amount in it, but the Georgian did get a push to the face, of sorts.
9 mins: It’s just too fast and too skilful from PSG at the moment and Inter Miami’s heads will be spinning trying to keep track of Kvaratskhelia and co. It could be a case of damage limitation for the time being.
8 mins: That goal could rather scupper Javier Mascherano’s gameplan, which was clearly to sit in, remain compact and frustrate the European champions. Inter Miami will now need a goal at some point.
GOAL! PSG 1-0 Inter Miami (Neves, 6)
That didn’t take long! It’s midfielder to midfielder as Vitinha’s free-kick finds the unmarked João Neves ghosting around the back post to head home.
Poor defending from the MLS side. They cannot afford to do that from set-pieces against a team like PSG.
4 mins: What a sensational run from Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian displays his trademark fast feet, swerving through bodies off the left after a quick layoff from Doué. Such a shame, from a PSG perspective, that it didn’t end with a goal. The boy Kvaratskhelia is magic.
3 mins: It’s a pretty partisan crowd, many wearing the pink of the US-based side, rather than a Parisian crowd.
An early break for Inter Miami is quickly snuffed out by Marquinhos.
1 min: What on earth was that? From kick-off, PSG have just thumped the ball straight out for an Inter Miami goal-kick. Odd.
KICK OFF
Let’s go!
An almighty roar greets Messi’s arrival through the doors, pennant in hand. He looks all business. Nearly time for KO.
These walk outs are a bit silly
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) June 29, 2025I think it’s no exaggeration to say this is the Club World Cup game that’s attracted the most publicity thus far. The gaggle of photographers and cameramen either side of the tunnel waiting for the players tell its own story. No doubt a certain Mister Lionel Messi will receive more glare than anyone else.
Here come the officials followed by the teams, as the club badges are unfurled during the now-standard light show.
Just a reminder that the winner of this one will play Bayern Munich or Flamengo (probably Bayern) in the quarter-finals.
That game takes place later on today. The other last 16 ties are:
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Inter Milan v Fluminense
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Manchester City v Al Hilal
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Real Madrid v Juventus
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Borussia Dortmund v Monterrey
And there’s some other live football in our offering today, as the Lionesses gear up for Euro 2025 with a final warmup friendly, taking on Jamaica at the King Power Stadium. Rob Smyth is all over the action.
Some vital pre-match reading from our man in the know when it comes to French football, Philippe Auclair.
David Beckham is in the building, sporting a sling on his right arm. It’s believed that GoldenBalls recently had surgery on his wrist – an injury that apparently dates back to something he sustained in an England match 22 years ago. Anyway, he looks happy enough as always – he’s another who’s got a foot in both camps this afternoon, as a former PSG player and a current Inter Miami co-owner.
No great surprises in the two lineups. As predicted, Dembélé is on the PSG bench, with Bradley Barcola joining the two starlets of the French side’s Champions League run, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, in the front three. Expect Inter Miami to play a loose 4-4-2, with Messi and Luis Suárez given license to roam around up front.
Both teams have two goalkeepers apiece on the bench, incidentally which is both increasingly common in modern football and usually a completely pointless exercise.
Team news
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; F.Ruiz, Vitinha, J.Neves; Doué, Barcola, Kvaratskhelia.
Subs: Tenas, Safonov, Beraldo, Ramos, Dembélé, Lee, Hernández, Mayulu, Zaïre-Emery, Kamara, Mbaye.
Inter Miami: Ustari; Weigandt, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Allende, F.Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suárez.
Subs: Yarbrough, Novo, Aviles, Picault, Rodríguez, D.Martínez, Sailor, Afonso, Obando, Cremaschi, Morales.
Preamble
The Club World Cup has reached its business stage. Saturday provided the first two last 16 ties, with Palmeiras winning the battle of Brazil, defeating the the South American champions Botafogo, while Chelsea overpowered Benfica. No doubt the Fifa suits will be licking their lips at the thought of this next last 16 encounter… it’s the Champions League winners against the Team Lionel Messi Plays For. Paris Saint-Germain versus Inter Miami.
In fairness, there’s no shortage of narrative for this one in Atlanta, given it’s Messi against his former employers – the team at which he never looked or felt particularly comfortable – and against his former Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique. Inter Miami have a good few others of an ex Barça persuasion, too. You may not give them a prayer and that may prove justified, but hey this could be lots of fun!
You suspect the team that beats PSG might become team that wins the Club World Cup. Let’s see what the MLS outfit can do to nullify Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé et al. Dembélé is expected to feature, most likely from the bench, after missing the CWC group stage with injury.
Kick off is at 5pm (BST), which is midday local time in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
