How did Messi’s Inter Miami qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed what was already an open secret: Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will be the host team in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The first edition of the Club World Cup to be played in an expanded, 32-team format, the tournament is to be held in the United States in June and July next year.

Infantino confirmed Miami’s Club World Cup qualification on Saturday, after the Herons rounded off the MLS regular season with a 6-2 victory over New England Revolution - a game in which Messi scored an 11-minute hat-trick. The win saw Miami, who had already clinched the Supporters’ Shield as the top regular-season team in the 2024 MLS campaign, set a new single-season points record in the North American league.

“You are the best team of the season in America”

“Miami loves football, the world loves football, and the world loves Miami,” Infantino said in an on-pitch speech at the club’s Chase Stadium. “So I have three things to tell you. The first: many congratulations for winning the Supporters’ Shield. And on top, with the record of points in Major League Soccer. Congratulations! You are the best team of the season in America.

“Second: based on this outstanding performance of this year, you deserve to be, and you will be, qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. And third: as the host team of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, you will have the honor of opening the tournament, hosting the opening game here in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium in front of 65,000 people and tens of millions at home.”

Miami aren’t MLS winners...

Miami’s Club World Cup qualification as winners of the Supporters’ Shield has not met with universal approval in North America, given that regular-season supremacy does not make the Floridians the 2024 MLS champions. With the league phase over, 18 teams will now contest the MLS Cup playoffs to decide this year’s kings of the US and Canadian league.

However, there is little doubt that Messi’s anticipated involvement in the Club World Cup represents a major draw and is likely to boost FIFA’s position as it negotiates broadcast deals for the tournament. With just eight months to go until kick-off, world soccer’s governing body has been struggling to sell the television rights to the revamped competition.

How many teams have qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup?

With Inter Miami confirmed as the host team, all but one of the 32 Club World Cup spots have now been filled. The remaining available berth will be taken up by the winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. Currently at the semi-final stage, South America’s elite continental tournament will be won by one of Atlético Mineiro (Brazil), Botafogo (Brazil), River Plate (Argentina) or Peñarol (Uruguay).

Qualified teams:

Africa (CAF):

Al Ahly (Egypt)

Wydad AC (Morocco)

Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Asia (AFC):

Al Ain (UAE)

Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

Ulsan HD (South Korea)

Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

Europe (UEFA):

Atlético Madrid (Spain)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Benfica (Portugal)

Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Chelsea (England)

Inter Milan (Italy)

Juventus (Italy)

Manchester City (England)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Porto (Portugal)

RB Salzburg (Austria)

Real Madrid (Spain)

Central America, North American and Caribbean (CONCACAF):

Club León (Mexico)

Inter Miami (US)

Monterrey (Mexico)

Pachuca (Mexico)

Seattle Sounders (US)

South America (CONMEBOL):

Boca Juniors (Argentina)

Flamengo (Brazil)

Fluminense (Brazil)

Palmeiras (Brazil)

River Plate (Argentina)

Oceania (OFC):

Auckland City (New Zealand)

Which US cities will host the 2025 Club World Cup?

The tournament is to be held in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Orlando (two stadiums), New York-New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, DC.

When is the Club World Cup draw?

The 2025 Club World Cup draw is set to take place in December 2024, but FIFA has not yet announced the exact date of the event.