The Round of 16 matchups in the revamped Club World Cup are now confirmed following the conclusion of the group stage phase.
Palmeiras, winners of Group A, will face fellow Brazilians Botafogo in a high-stakes showdown set for June 28 in Philadelphia.
Over in Atlanta, Group B champions Paris Saint-Germain are scheduled to take on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on June 29 – the Argentine star poised for a re-encounter with his old club and former Barça coach Luis Enrique.
The third matchup is also locked in: Flamengo will go head-to-head with Bayern Munich on June 29 in Miami, marking another blockbuster tie.
The fourth Round of 16 pairing is still to be finalized, with Benfica awaiting the winner between Chelsea and Tunisian side Espérance. That match will take place on June 28 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
With their victory over RB Salzburg on Thursday, Madrid top the group and set up a Round of 16 tie against Juventus, followed by a potential quarterfinal showdown with Champions League runner-up Inter Milan or Borussia Dortmund.
There’s even the tantalizing prospect of a rematch with club legend Sergio Ramos and his current team, Monterrey.
