Palmeiras opened their campaign with a draw against Porto, while Al Ahly began with a goalless result against Inter Miami. Both sides are aiming for a top two finish that would send them through to the last 16 of FIFA's expanded tournament.
Palmeiras kicked off their tournament schedule in the United States with a hard fought point against Porto on Sunday night. Fans got a glimpse of two young stars in that match, Estevao for Palmeiras and Rodrigo Mora for Porto, but despite their presence, neither side managed to find the net. Goalkeepers Weverton and Claudio Ramos each kept a clean sheet.
With that draw, Palmeiras currently sit third in Group A based on alphabetical order, but the group remains wide open with two matches still to play. They now face Al Ahly and then Inter Miami, knowing a win is crucial to staying in contention.
Estevao, who led Palmeiras in both goals and assists during the 2024 Brazilian Serie A season, is playing his final matches for the club before making a permanent move to Chelsea once the tournament wraps up.
Al Ahly, the most decorated club in African football with 45 Egyptian Premier League titles and 12 CAF Champions League trophies, opened the Club World Cup against Inter Miami. While many expected goals, the match ended in a tense scoreless draw. The most dramatic moment came late in the first half when Trezeguet missed a penalty for Al Ahly.
After holding off Messi and company, Al Ahly currently top Group A with one point. A win against Palmeiras could be enough to send them into the knockout rounds.
Midfielder Emam Ashour has been Al Ahly’s standout performer in the Egyptian Premier League this season, leading the team in several attacking categories. However, his status is uncertain after suffering a painful injury early in the match against Inter Miami.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Palmeiras will still be without Bruno Rodrigues, who has been out of action for all of 2025 so far due to injury. They’re also dealing with a shortage in midfield, as Figueiredo remains sidelined with a serious knee injury he picked up back in February.On the Al Ahly side, Emam Ashour is officially out for the rest of the Club World Cup after breaking his collarbone during the match against Inter Miami. In his absence, Zizo is expected to step into the starting lineup. With a bit more experience under his belt, he'll be looked to as a key figure for the Egyptian side on Thursday.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:Weverton; Giay, Gomez, Cerqueira; Anderson, Rios, Moreno, Piquerez; Estevao, Mauricio, Roque
Al Ahly possible starting lineup:
El Shenawi; Hany, Dari, Ibrahim, Kouka; Ben Romdhane, Attia, Fathi; Zizo, Trezeguet, Ali
EXPERT PREDICTION
Palmeiras 2-1 Al Ahly
Heading into the match against Al Ahly, the Brazilian side is expected to stick with their attacking approach. They're seen as the favorites to win and have already shown they have what it takes to finish at the top of the group.
