(Reuters) -Portuguese side Porto struggled to recruit players ahead of FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, with transfer targets turning down moves specifically to avoid the tournament's additional fixture burden,

Palmeiras and two-time European champion Porto tied 0-0 in their opening match of the Club World Cup before a crowd of 46,275 at MetLife Stadium, which was just over half full.

FC Porto and Palmeiras will kick off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Sunday at MetLife Stadium on the first matchday of the group phase in the same group as Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Al Ahly FC.