FC Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio is ready to challenge himself against the best teams in the world at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
Speaking to FIFA and other media, the Canadian said: “I think it’s going to be an amazing tournament. Obviously, playing in the US against such good teams is like a dream come true. You know, to be able to play against Palmeiras, Al Ahly, and Inter Miami for Porto, I think it’s going to be a very good experience, and I think the boys are ready.”
Porto are part of Group A, which will kick off the tournament. The Portuguese side’s opening game is against Brazilian giants SE Palmeiras at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey. The game will take place a stone’s throw from Down-Neck, a Portuguese immigrant neighbourhood in Newark that could help it feel like a home game for Porto.
When asked about Down-Neck, Eustaquio admitted he didn’t know about the Portuguese community, but he welcomed the local support, saying: “I was trying to bring all my Porto friends from Toronto to the tournament, which looks a little bit hard. But yeah, I’m happy that you said that. I didn’t know about that. Maybe when Porto is at the facility, we can all have a lunch out and try to bring them out to the game. We’re going to need their help.”
After their opener against Palmeiras, Porto will take on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF in Atlanta on 19 June, before wrapping up their group stage matches against Egyptian side Al Ahly FC in New York New Jersey on 23 June.
Despite his anticipation for the tournament, the Porto midfielder is not looking beyond the first game. Eustaquio says: “Obviously, the first game is very tough against Palmeiras. We have to go past that game first and try to secure a win because in these types of competitions, the first game is very, very important.”
A veteran of both the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Eustaquio understands the importance of a strong start at knockout tournaments. A defeat to Palmeiras could put Porto in a difficult position heading into a pivotal match against Messi and co.
Emphasizing Porto’s desire to win, Eustaquio said: “Obviously, we want to play good football. We want to show the fans that we’re growing and that we’re playing well, but at the same time, the W is very, very important. And I think for a tournament like this, if you start winning, you get yourself in a good spot in the group, you get your confidence high as well, and it’s just massively important. So yeah, for me, at this stage, obviously, the next game is always the most important. I wouldn’t exchange anything for a victory in the first game, especially against a tough opponent like Palmeiras.”
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Eustaquio also refuses to fixate on a match-up against Messi. He says: “We look at the club by itself and not an individual player. Obviously, Messi is one of the top players in the world. He is a threat, the way he plays with the ball, we have to take care of that. But at the same time, Inter Miami has a whole group, they’re a strong team.”
Despite a long season, which included a deep run in the UEFA Europa League, the Ontario native expects his team-mates to arrive in the USA fresh and ready to compete for the title.
“It’s the first tournament of this kind. So I think the boys are motivated. We’re fresh enough to make it to the States and be competitive… we know everybody’s going to watch this tournament, and we play against very good teams. I think that’s everybody’s dream to play against the best teams in the world, and we have the opportunity to do that. So, yeah, I think the boys are looking forward to it.”
Eustaquio is one of the few Porto players who has experience playing in the States. He regularly competes on American soil in Concacaf qualifiers, and last year had the privilege of representing his nation in the CONMEBOL Copa America, which Canada placed fourth in.
The centre midfielder is passing on his experience to his team-mates, telling them what to expect from the stadiums, travel, and even some of the opponents. He says: “Yeah, I’ve been telling them, you know, I have the experience in the Gold Cup, and in the Copa America as well. We’re talking about a lot of NFL fields where they just throw grass on the pitches, you know, sometimes it’s going to be too wet, sometimes it’s going to be too dry, it depends a lot.
“And then, you know, to compete against teams that are still active, like the case of Palmeiras, like the case of Inter Miami, where they’re still playing in their domestic leagues, and they have that rhythm. That we really need to catch up when we come here in New York in the summer. So it’s going to be tough. I don’t think the name of the club has a big factor in these types of tournaments.”
Eustaquio is unfazed by playing in the Big Apple, saying: “To be honest, for me, it’s the same,” although he admits adding at least three more matches to an already tiring season will be hard, noting, “everybody’s tired mentally and physically.”
In his eyes, this “very special tournament” will be won by the team that shows the most mental toughness. He says: “The factor that’s going to make the difference is the mental state of the team and how we perform and the rhythm that we have. It’s going to be a dogfight out there. But at the same time, everybody wants to show we’re here to defend Porto. So that’s what we’re going to do.”
