Palmeiras and Botafogo renew their rivalry on the world stage this weekend as they meet in the last 16 of the Club World Cup in what feels like a familiar Brasileirão showdown, only this time it’s got a global twist.

The two sides have developed a bit of a modern rivalry in recent years, with their clashes carrying more meaning than your average league match. One of the key moments in that came back in 2023 was when Botafogo looked set to end their long wait for a league title. They were 13 points clear after 19 rounds and cruising, but then came the collapse. A 10-match winless run completely derailed their campaign, something which Palmeiras reaped reward from.

When the pair met in November 2023, Palmeiras trailed Botafogo by six points, and the Rio side raced into a 3-0 lead, only to crumble and lose 4-3. That result not only summed up their downfall but also gave Palmeiras the momentum to go on and lift the title. Since then, there’s been a bit of bite to this fixture, the kind you don’t forget easily.

Botafogo would eventually get their revenge on Palmeiras in 2024. First, they picked up a 1-0 win in the league, before knocking them out of the Copa Libertadores at the quarter-final stage in yet another classic. That one finished 4-3 on aggregate, with both legs packed full of drama.

Then came another major showdown between the two, this time in the Campeonato Brasileirão title decider at the end of 2024. And once again, it was Botafogo who came out on top. Goals from Gregore, Jefferson Savarino, and Adryelson gave them a commanding lead, with Richard Rios grabbing a late consolation for Palmeiras. But the damage was done. Botafogo didn’t just win that night, they went on to win it all.

They lifted both the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores, sealing their place in this year’s Club World Cup. Ironically, had they not beaten Palmeiras in that crucial Libertadores quarter-final, they wouldn’t even be at the Club World Cup.

The sides have already met once in 2025, a 0-0 draw in the Brasileirão. A fairly even contest — 13 shots each — but with the world watching this time around, it’s a different kind of stage, a different kind of pressure.

Palmeiras come into this fixture having gone through the group stage with one win and two draws, topping Group A on goal difference. Palmeiras haven’t quite been at their fluent best so far and haven’t exactly lit up the tournament in terms of entertainment, other than their opener against Porto, a game they largely dominated but just couldn’t find a way through.

Their second match saw them take on Al Ahly, where they enjoyed a fairly comfortable 2-0 win, thanks to an own goal from Wessam Abou Ali and a strike from Flaco López. That result might look solid on paper, but the shot from López was their only shot on target that night, with the own goal doing the rest.

Then, in their final match, they took on Inter Miami. Palmeiras looked in big trouble after going 2-0 down through goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez. But just when it looked like it was slipping away, Paulinho and Maurício came to the rescue with goals in the 80th and 87th minutes to secure a vital point. That draw wasn’t just enough to send them through; it sent them through as group winners.

On the Botafogo side of things, nobody expected them to get out of their group. Drawn alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid and Seattle Sounders, it looked like a tall order for the Brazilian champions. But what Botafogo did was stun the world.

They started off with a strong 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders on U.S. soil, scoring twice in the first half and managing the game well after that, bar the game’s final ten stages. Then came the shock of the tournament — a 1-0 win over European Champions Paris Saint-Germain. It was a gritty performance, built on discipline and defensive organisation, and decided by a first-half goal from Igor Jesus.

In the final match, they took on Atlético de Madrid in what was expected to be a tough encounter, and it proved to be just that. Botafogo did have chances to open the scoring, but fluffed their lines. Atlético dominated for large periods, firing off 23 shots, with five on target. Eventually, they made the pressure count with an 87th-minute winner from Antoine Griezmann.

Despite the loss, the work had already been done. All three sides — PSG, Atlético, and Botafogo — finished on six points, but it was Botafogo’s earlier results and goal difference that saw them sneak through in second place. That set up this spicy all-Brazilian affair, as they prepare to renew their rivalry with Palmeiras.

One certainty is that Saturday evening’s clash between the two Brazilians will not only be a showcase of the Brasileirão on the world stage, but it’s set to be a tense, exciting affair. Both sides will be looking to cancel each other out in what could definitely be a game that goes the distance, and one that will absolutely be worth tuning in for.

Palmeiras Expected Lineup:

Weverton, Giay, Bruno Fuchs, Gustavo Gómez, Piquerez, Emiliano Martínez, Richard Ríos, Maurício, Estêvão, Flaco López, Facundo Torres

Botafogo Expected Lineup:

John, Vitinho, Jair, Alexander Barboza, Alex Telles, Allan, Marlon Freitas, Savarino, Álvaro Montoro, Artur, Igor Jesus

Kick-off: Saturday, 28 June 2025 at 17:00 GMT

Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (USA)