Lionel Messi to Feature in Revamped Club World Cup with Inter Miami

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami has officially been invited to participate in the 2025 Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States. This announcement is expected to be confirmed shortly by FIFA, which has the authority to invite one club from the host nation to join the tournament.

Expanded Tournament Format

The Club World Cup will see a significant overhaul, expanding from its previous seven-team format to include 32 clubs from around the globe for the first time. The tournament is scheduled to occur in June and July 2025 across 12 venues in the U.S. FIFA has chosen to broaden the scope of the competition, bringing together the most successful club sides from the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA.

Among the teams already confirmed to participate are European giants Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid. Additionally, four clubs have qualified from CONCACAF, including Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, and León. With Inter Miami awarded the final CONCACAF spot as the 2024 Supporters' Shield winner, the stage is set for an exciting tournament.

Messi's Potential Matchups

This revamped Club World Cup could see Messi face off against his longtime rivals, including Real Madrid—his former club Barcelona's arch-rivals—and Manchester City, managed by his old coach Pep Guardiola. During their successful time at Barcelona, Messi and Guardiola won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies together.

As of now, 31 of the 32 teams set to participate in the tournament are confirmed, with the final spot to be filled by the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, which will be determined in December.

Tournament Structure

The tournament will mimic the format of the FIFA World Cup, with the 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to a knockout stage, culminating in the final. The competition is scheduled to run from June 15 to July 13, 2025, falling between the 2024/25 and 2025/26 domestic and European seasons.

Messi's Recent Achievements

Messi's last appearance in the Club World Cup was in 2015, when he played for Barcelona. Since his move to Inter Miami, he has continued to make headlines, recently scoring twice to help Miami secure the MLS Supporters' Shield for the first time, marking the 46th trophy of his illustrious career. Before focusing on the Club World Cup, Messi will aim to lead Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup victory.