Arsenal loanee on verge of Club World Cup elimination

Arsenal’s only participant in the Club World Cup is on the verge of group-stage elimination, with Fabio Vieira and FC Porto needing everything to go their way on Monday night.

With Arsenal failing to qualify for the Club World Cup themselves, their only player involved at the tournament is FC Porto loanee Fabio Vieira.

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The Gunners reportedly agreed with Porto at the start of the season that Vieira would be permitted to remain on loan throughout the tournament, even if that took him beyond the usual loan end date of June 30th.

Hypothetically, Porto could be involved in the Club World Cup until July 13th, the date of the final. But there’s little risk of that right now, with the team fighting for their lives in Monday night’s Group A deciders.

Having drawn their opening game against Palmeiras before losing to Inter Miami, Porto sit third in their group on just one point, with Palmeiras and Inter Miami on four points each.

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As a result, Porto must beat Al Ahly to even have a chance, but they will still be eliminated if Palmeiras and Inter Miami draw.

Given the group tiebreakers primarily use head-to-head record, a Palmeiras win would also see Porto eliminated. As even if Porto win and Inter Miami lose, Inter Miami still have the head-to-head advantage.

So Porto’s one path to progression is beating Al Ahly, Inter Miami beating Palmeiras, and Porto also overturning the current goal difference gap of three to the Brazilian group leaders (as head-to-head record can’t separate Palmeiras and Porto following their 0-0 draw).

Anything else, and Vieira’s loan spell will come to an end before Tuesday morning.