Messi's Inter Miami to play in Fifa Club World Cup - sports news

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami won the MLS Supporters' Shield earlier this month

Major League Soccer side Inter Miami have been named as the latest addition to the Fifa Club World Cup in 2025.

The expanded 32-team tournament will be held in the United States in 2025 from 15 June to 3 July next year.

The tournament will feature 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and 12 teams combined from Asia, Africa, and North America. The final two spots will go to one club from Oceania and another from the United States, which is the host nation.

Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, secured the U.S. spot after winning the MLS Supporters' Shield, awarded to the club with the best regular season in Major League Soccer (MLS).

This announcement followed Lionel Messi's hat-trick that helped Inter Miami set a new MLS regular-season points record.

"You've proven that in the United States, you're consistently the best on the field," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "Therefore, I am proud to announce that, as one of the top clubs globally, you are deserved participants in the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025."

Messi, alongside Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, could face European clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City, both of which have already qualified for the tournament. Other European participants include Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica.

The 32nd and final spot will go to the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores.

The matches will take place in eight venues across the U.S., including Inter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with the final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

FIFA's decision to expand the tournament has sparked criticism from clubs and players, especially as UEFA has already expanded the Champions League and Europa League group stages, adding two extra matches. In July, Global players' union Fifpro and the European Leagues body, representing 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs across 33 countries, filed a joint complaint to the European Commission, accusing FIFA of "abuse of dominance" in football.

The most recent edition of the tournament, held in 2023, involved seven teams from six confederations and was won by Manchester City. The full draw for the 2025 Club World Cup will take place in December.