All three MLS participants have now played their first match in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Here's a look at how each team fared, as well as their outlook for the remainder of the tournament, including their chances to advance from the group.
Inter Miami
Result: Inter Miami 0-0 Al Ahly
Herons goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was at his absolute best in the first half to keep the underdog Egyptian champions from grabbing a shock lead. But the tide turned after halftime, with Miami applying most of the pressure. Luis Suarez and Fafa Picault both failed to convert excellent chances, and Messi very nearly beat Ustari's counterpart Mohamed El Shenawy with an audacious effort from distance.
The road ahead
- Thursday, 3 pm ET vs. Porto, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Monday, 9 pm ET vs. Palmerias, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Fla.
Inter Miami's outlook
Going in, conventional logic suggested Miami needed three points from their opener if they hoped to advance. And it's hard to tell if Porto only playing Palmeiras to a 0-0 draw in the other group encounter makes the Herons' path harder or easier.
On the one hand, they're not behind anyone as they enter Matchday 2. On the other, they're not ahead of anyone either, and now face two games where they will be considerable underdogs.
That said, respectable performances by Seattle and LAFC against South American and European foes, respectively, suggest maybe there is something there for Miami on Matchdays 2 and 3. And after all, they do have Lionel Messi.
Seattle Sounders
Result: Seattle Sounders 1-2 Botafogo
It was the quintessential tail of two halves against the Brazilian giants. But as has been the case at times during Seattle's domestic campaign, the lack of a healthy and experienced center forward proved costly in a second 45 minutes full of chances, but only one goal for the MLS side.
The road ahead
- Thursday, 6 pm ET vs. Atletico Madrid, Lumen Field, Seattle
- Monday, 3 pm ET vs. Paris Saint-Germain, Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Sounders' oulook
Unfortunately for Brian Schmetzer and company, their opener was a game they probably needed to earn all three points from if they had any hope of pulling off a Cinderella run. The Sounders got just a brutal draw -- arguably the toughest in the entire tournament -- and their schedule gets progressively more difficult with each match.
On the bright side, that probably takes all the pressure off the 2022 Concacaf Champions League winners, who will get to play all three of their group games at home. And on Matchday 3, they might get to face a PSG side that is already assured of its place in the last 16.
LAFC
Result: Chelsea 2, LAFC 0
The Black-and-Gold gave a strong performance against the reigning UEFA Europa Conference League champions and even had one dangerous second-half sequence where they could've leveled the match before Enzo Fernandez doubled the Blues' lead in the 79th minute.
The road ahead
- Friday, 6 pm ET vs. Esprance de Tunis, Geodis Park, Nashville
- Tuesday, 9 pm ET vs. Flamengo, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
LAFC's outlook
Despite losing, Steve Cherundolo's group has the most workable path to the round of 16 of the remaining MLS teams. The most likely path is relatively straightforward: beat ES Tunis on Matchday 2, hope Flamengo loses to Chelsea, and the Matchday 3 clash with the Brazilian giants would be a loser-go-home affair.
Yes, LAFC will be a sizable underdog against Flamengo, but it's the kind of dynamic you might see between a top-half and bottom-half team in the same league, not the wide chasm in talent level between Chelsea and all three of their group opponents.