Palmeiras Seeks First FIFA Club World Cup Title in US Tournament

Brazil’s Palmeiras enters the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States with a mission to win its first world championship title and end a long-standing taunt in Brazilian football that the club "has no world title." Despite recent successes under coach Abel Ferreira, including multiple Copa Libertadores and domestic titles, Palmeiras remains the only major Brazilian club among its local rivals—Corinthians, São Paulo, and Santos—that has never won a world championship, fueling over two decades of jokes and memes. Palmeiras qualified for the tournament as the 2021 Copa Libertadores champion and faces group rivals FC Porto, Al Ahly, and Inter Miami. The club's strong financial backing from sponsor Crefisa and a thriving youth academy have propelled Palmeiras to 14 titles between 2015 and 2025, but key players may depart after the tournament. Fans express cautious optimism about Palmeiras' chances, with some seeing a better opportunity to claim a world title in the upcoming, shorter FIFA Intercontinental Cup format. The club’s quest reflects a broader narrative of redemption and ambition to cement its legacy on the global stage.