Lionel Messi and Miami to meet Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta on Sunday

Caption

Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi waves to the crowd in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 19, 2025 after the team prevailed over Porto in a FIFA Club World Club match.

Credit: Sofia Cupertino/Courtesy SDH Network

Inter Miami FC is hoping for an upset against a European powerhouse in the fourth of six FIFA Club World Cup matches to take place at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The MLS team, featuring former Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, will face Paris Saint-Germain — for whom Messi's once played — on Sunday.

PSG is fresh off a historic treble, having won the UEFA Champions League, Ligue Un and Coupe de France titles.

U.S. Men's National Team legend and 2000 Major League Soccer MVP Tony Meola spoke the match with GPB's Orlando Montoya.

He favors the European champions over the 5-year-old upstart American team, but he sees a scenario that could go the other way.

"You tell me that if you get a free kick somewhere around the box and Lionel Messi steps up or if you see Luis Suarez turn back the clock a little but like he did against Palmeiras, can he do it again against this side?" Meola said. "I would expect the flow of the game clearly to be in favor of PSG. But, as you saw against the Seattle Sounders, they gave up some opportunities."

This will be the first time Messi faces his former club since his exit from PSG in 2023 after two-seasons.

He'll also be facing his former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, now leading PSG.

FIFA's Club World Cup begins its 16-team knockout stage this weekend.

After Sunday, Atlanta's next hosted match in the reinvigorated tournament will be on Tuesday, when Germany's Dortmund takes on Mexico's Monterrey.

GPB Sports' Jon Nelson is blogging about the matches. Check out his analysis here.