In a thrilling finish, Inter Miami secured a place in the Club World Cup's round of 16 after a nail-biting 2-2 draw with Palmeiras, setting the stage for a much-anticipated clash with Messi's former team, Paris Saint-Germain.

The draw not only catapulted Inter Miami to the knockout stage but also marked a historic moment for Major League Soccer, as they are the only MLS team to advance. With Messi gearing up to face his old club PSG, the June 29 showdown in Atlanta promises to be a superstar spectacle, eagerly anticipated by fans, commissioners, and probably a few confused tourists.

In their final group stage match, Inter Miami and Palmeiras played out an exciting 2-2 draw. Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez found the back of the net for Miami, while Palmeiras struck back with equalizers from Paulinho and Maurício. It seems the game had everything except a trophy, which is presumably what the teams were really after.

Despite the thrilling draw, Inter Miami finished the group stage with five points, putting them level with Palmeiras. However, their status was helped by the unfortunate fates of Porto and Egypt's Al Ahly, both of whom were unceremoniously knocked out and likely left wondering where it all went wrong. Perhaps they didn’t get the memo that it was now Inter Miami's year.

In the aftermath of this heroic draw, Inter Miami's head coach, Javier Mascherano, expressed pride in his team’s efforts, dubbing the night 'historic' for MLS. To be fair, calling it a 'historic night' is a bit of an understatement. After all, it’s not every day that an MLS team progresses in a tournament generally dominated by teams from Europe and South America, which suggests big things are coming for the league—or possibly just the end of the world.

What lies ahead for Inter Miami is a collision course with PSG, who also progressed to the knockout stage after decisively defeating the Seattle Sounders 2-0. It seems both teams know how to score—with Miami finding the goal when it counts and PSG managing to keep it together long enough to secure a place in the next round. All of this feels a bit like a game of musical chairs where there's only one chair left, and it turns out that it’s the most prestigious one.

The much-anticipated face-off between Inter Miami and PSG is scheduled for June 29 in Atlanta. That's right, in less than a month, the world will witness Messi go up against a team that used to provide him with a paycheck, along with a Celsius degree of pressure. Fans are expected to flock to the stadium, bringing with them an assortment of Messi jerseys and existential questions about loyalty and allegiance.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber and FIFA President Gianni Infantino are both eager to celebrate Inter Miami's improbable journey to this point. It appears they will be on hand to soak up the atmosphere and take note of what a true soccer spectacle looks like, giving them the perfect opportunity to remind the soccer world that Major League Soccer has officially arrived. No pressure at all on the players, right?

As the hype builds, analysts are leaning into this matchup as a 'dream scenario' for both MLS and FIFA. The stars are aligning, and they’re practically writing the story themselves. Between Messi’s stardom and the exciting growth of MLS on the global stage, one can only assume that somewhere a marketing exec is rubbing their hands together in glee.

As the June date approaches, one can only hope for a match that lives up to the current swirling anticipation. With Messi and Suarez on the field, there is bound to be drama, brilliance, and perhaps a handful of old teammates who remember just how special it used to be when they played side by side— devoid of angry fans shouting 'traitor' from the stands.

So, mark your calendars. Whether you’re an ardent supporter of Inter Miami or simply intrigued by the concept of a former star dueling with his past, this is certainly one match that soccer fans won’t want to miss. It promises skill, strategy, and the inevitable sight of Messi running circles around defenders who are probably receiving therapy from past encounters.