Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is set to participate in the newly expanded 2025 Club World Cup, according to reports. The tournament, scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 13, will now feature 32 teams from six continents, including top clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.
Miami, the reigning Leagues Cup champions and the current season’s MLS Supporters’ Shield winner, will claim the final spot in the upcoming competition. FIFA exercised its authority to select the final Concacaf representative for the tournament, ultimately choosing Inter Miami.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber, during the All-Star game on July 24, clarified that while the league could offer suggestions, the final decision rested solely with FIFA.
🚨 Juan Castro (MARCA): Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as an invitee for winning the @MLS Supporters Shield. It will be made official soon. ✅ pic.twitter.com/Vo24CCFQfS
— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) October 18, 2024
CONCACAF secured four direct entries for the tournament, but an additional spot was granted to the region due to the United States serving as the host nation. Alongside Inter Miami, the MLS’ Seattle Sounders and Liga MX sides Monterrey, León, and Pachuca will also represent North America in the competition.
South American powerhouses River Plate and Boca Juniors will also participate, joining European clubs such as PSG, Inter Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, and Atletico Madrid in the expanded competition. In total, UEFA has been allocated 12 spots for the tournament, while CONMEBOL has six. Both the Asian and African federations have been granted four places each, with Oceania receiving one, and CONCACAF securing five spots, including an additional one as the host region.
While FIFA president Gianni Infantino used his appearance at New York City’s Global Citizen Festival last month to reveal the 12 host sites for the tournament and generate excitement for the expanded event, the new format has faced criticism from FIFPRO.
The international players’ union, FIFPRO, voiced concerns in December, stating that the tournament would “undercut the rest and recovery time of these players at the end of the 2024-25 season.” They also highlighted the lack of consideration for the “mental and physical health of participating players” and the impact on their personal lives. Manchester City midfielder Rodri even hinted at a player’s strike to raise their voices against the player overload.
The final of the tournament is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with other key venues including the Rose Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
