Lionel Messi will be participating in the Club World Cup next year.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday night that Inter Miami will take part in the tournament, which many had anticipated due to Messi’s immense global popularity and plans for some matches in South Florida.
The tournament, held every four years, features 32 teams from FIFA’s six soccer confederations. Inter Miami is set to play in the opening match on June 15, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
“I am proud to announce that as one of the best clubs in the world, you are deserved participants in the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as the host club representing the United States,” Infantino said during an on-field ceremony after Inter Miami set a record for most points in a Major League Soccer regular season.
The tournament will continue until July 13, with the final taking place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final. So far, the Club World Cup has not attracted major U.S. sponsors, and there is currently no media rights agreement in place.
Other U.S. cities that will host the Club World Cup include Atlanta, Cincinnati, Nashville, Charlotte, Orlando, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, and Seattle.
Twelve teams from Europe will be part of the Club World Cup, including Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid, and Salzburg.
Other teams that have qualified are Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras, and River Plate from South America; Leon, Monterrey, Pachuca, and the Seattle Sounders from North America; Al Ahly, Esperance, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad from Africa; Al-Hilal, Al Ain, Ulsan, and Urawa from Asia; and Auckland City from Oceania.
Inter Miami is now the 31st team in the tournament. The final team will be decided on November 30 at the CONMEBOL Libertadores final in Buenos Aires. The tournament draw will take place in December.
