Lionel Messi and Inter Miami of Major League Soccer have been granted a place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place next year.
They will have the privilege of hosting the opening match of this prestigious tournament, which will feature 32 top clubs from around the globe.
Inter Miami recently clinched their first MLS Supporters’ Shield, finishing the regular season with the highest number of points. This achievement has secured their position as one of the participating teams in the tournament, scheduled to be held in various locations across the United States from June 15 to July 13.
In a news release, FIFA President Gianni Infantino extended his congratulations to Inter Miami for their remarkable success in winning the 2024 Supporters’ Shield. He acknowledged their consistent excellence on the field of play, affirming that they are one of the finest clubs in the world. As a result, they have earned the right to represent the United States as the host club in the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
From the outset, it was predetermined that the United States would have a host club in the tournament. However, instead of awarding this spot to the winner of the MLS Cup final on December 7, FIFA opted to recognize the Supporters’ Shield winner for their outstanding performance throughout a 34-game season.
FIFA has announced that Miami has been included in the Club World Cup following their impressive performance of breaking the regular-season points record held by MLS. They achieved this feat with a convincing 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution, accumulating a total of 74 points. The previous record, set in 2021, belonged to New England with 73 points.
When Lionel Messi joined Miami midway through last year, he immediately made an impact by leading the team to a Leagues Cup title. However, despite his magical abilities, Messi was unable to help his new club overcome their early season struggles and secure a playoff spot.
Nevertheless, in Messi’s first full season in the MLS, Miami managed to secure the Supporters’ Shield and claim the top seed for the playoffs in early October. This remarkable achievement occurred with two regular season matches still remaining.
Despite missing a significant portion of the 2024 season due to injuries and national team commitments, the Argentine superstar made the most of his playing time. He scored an impressive tally of 20 goals in 19 games, including a remarkable hat trick within just 11 minutes during the latter stages of a match on Saturday.
It is worth noting that the final spot in the Club World Cup will be awarded to the winner of the CONMEBOL Libertadores final taking place in Buenos Aires on November 30th.
Apart from Miami, the Seattle Sounders are the only other MLS team participating in the Club World Cup. They earned their place by defeating Mexican side Pumas in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final.
