Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will play in the Club World Cup next year in the United States, FIFA announced on Saturday, which has invited the Argentine superstar’s Florida team. The International Football Federation is organizing a Club World Cup from June 15 to July 13, 2025, expanded to 32 teams, and hopes with this invitation to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or and 2022 world champion from Argentina shine.
Miami for the opening match
« Inter Miami was chosen as the host country’s representative thanks to the club’s consistently outstanding performances, which were assured of dominating the MLS regular phase with two matches remaining in the championship », Explains Fifa in a press release.
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Inter Miami will even play in the opening of the tournament on June 15 at the Hard Rock Stadium of the US football team Miami Dolphins, added the international federation.
Miami concluded the MLS regular phase on Saturday with a 6-2 success against the New England Revolution, thanks in particular to a hat-trick from Lionel Messi, author of 20 goals in the regular season. The North American championship play-offs begin Wednesday, October 23, leading to a final on December 7.
In 2025, Fifa is organizing the first Club World Cup with 32 teams (instead of 7 teams), a former annual competition now scheduled every four years. Inter Miami is the 31st known participant, thanks to the FIFA invitation reserved for an American club, while the other clubs have won their place during the continental cups.
The draw for the eight groups of four teams will take place in December. Europe will send the largest contingent with twelve representatives (including Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris SG), followed by South America, with six teams (including Boca Juniors and River Plate). The new version of the Club World Cup has attracted widespread criticism in recent months, with many fearing the consequences of extending an already overloaded calendar.
