Just two places remain to be filled for FIFA’s expanded tournament - one will go to the United States - the other, to this year’s Copa Libertadores winners.
Inter Miami claimed their second title in franchise history on Wednesday night, but a big question remains: will they qualify for the Club World Cup?
The Supporters’ Shield won in Ohio consecrated the Garzas as the best team of the 2024 MLS regular season, but the top prize is the title itself - the MLS Cup - the only route left to qualify for next year’s expanded Club World Cup.
FIFA have allocated four slots to CONCACAF teams for the 2025 Club World Cup which will be held in the United States and features 32 teams for the first time. Those four slots have already been taken: Monterrey (as 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners), Seattle Sounders (2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners), León (2023 CONCACAF Champions League winners) and Pachuca (2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners).
Two vacant places remaining for the 2025 Club World Cup
However, two slots remain to be filled. One of them will go to the winners of this year’s Copa Libertadores (the semi-finals: River Plate vs Atlético Mineiro and Peñarol vs Botafogo will be played at the end of this month).
The last remaining slot will go to a team from the United States as the tournament hosts. As of the moment, it has not yet decided whether the guest slot will be given to the team that wins the Supporters’ Shield or the team that is crowned champions on 7 December.
Either way, Inter Miami, as Supporters’ Shield winners, already have a 50 percent chance of being selected. The only foolproof way of booking a place at the next Club World Cup would be by lifting the MLS Cup.
Inter Miami’s 2024 MLS playoff schedule
Tata Martino’s team have already booked a place in the playoffs. Inter Miami enter Round One as Eastern Conference champions which means they will start the best-of-three series against the winners of a Wild Card match between teams seeded eighth and ninth. Miami will host the first game of the series and the third, if required.
Inter Miami are keen to be among the teams taking part at the next Club World Cup. They lost the first match point after being eliminated from this year’s CONCACAF Champions League back in March. Miami entered at the Round of 16, beating Nashville 5-3 on aggregate. But defeat to Monterrey in the quarter finals brought a swift end to the franchise’s debut in the competition.
Possible final to determine US Club World Cup entrants
FIFA has not yet determined who will be awarded United States’ slot at next summer’s Club World Cup, whether it is the MLS Cup champions or the Supporters’ Shield winners. In the United States, the discussion is going even further. One of the suggestions includes holding a final between the two champions (or MLS Cup runner-up) although finding a date in a packed calendar for that to happen could be tricky.
The 2024 MLS season reaches its conclusion on 7 December and while the dates of the 2025 regular season have yet to be announced, the next campaign will probably start late February.
The 2025 Club World Cup will start on Sunday 15 June 2025 and continues up to the final on Sunday 13 July 2025. The 30 qualified teams include: Real Madrid, Atlético, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern, Dortmund, PSG, Juve, Inter, Porto, Benfica, Salzburg, Al Hilal, Al Ain, Urawa, Ulsan, Al Ahly, Wydad, Esperance, Mamelodi, León, Rayados, Pachuca, Seattle, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Flamengo, Boca Juniors, River Plate and Auckland.
For now, Inter Miami coach is taking it all in his stride until we know more. “Today we started to justify why Inter Miami could go to the Club World Cup. This is what gives me peace of mind,” the Argentine coach said after last night’s win against the Crew. “Inter Miami, based on the names it has, could start to be seen as a viable team to be elected. But it seems much fairer to me that we achieve this through sporting merits and today we have achieved just that”.
Makhaye29
0
you are just too obsessed with Messi being a failure but you will live to see him win even more and more... after that you will see that you are already a brainless hater ... FIFA has always given a slot to the Tournament's Host nation, why is it that you are having issues with FIFA given the same opportunity to the MLS as the host??? You are such a BAD omen to the football World stop watching football please
Don't even say things you don't know about. I don't even watch the MSL and I don't hate Messi and I would mide seeing in the club world cup. The problem is if you read everything properly you'd understand that FIFA hasn't decided on how to give the host country club a spot. The truth is it should be simple and been known long time ago. But because guys like you love Messi to much the moment you see a response questioning his in involvement you attack without checking fact.
Makhaye29
0
Another crying baby fan base
If pointing out favouritism in a governing body of international football that should give equal opportunity to all makes me a cry baby than am a cry baby no problem.
Makhaye29
0
The problem is that when you combine your hatred with your foolishness, it makes you look stup!d that's why you read and it's difficult for you to understand the simple phrase that the United States is the host country that's why they were given the slot and the two cups was recognised by Fifa that's why they are contemplating of which one to go for and your dumb a** think Fifa will leave Messi's team and choose another team who will not add any commercial value to the tournament. Fifa is not stup!d as you. I pray you find peace by the time Ronaldo lift one trophy at least since 2021 Id!ot
First you problem you think am a fan of Ronaldo, and am not I see him and Messi as the greatest players of their generation. For choosing a club it should have been decided long time ago which competition the host country can qualify by. When you talk about commercial aspects because of Messi being in a club world cup, that where a problem start. If he's team can't qualify then it shouldn't be in the competition. But you guys are so blind to see because you love him so much you won't see the truth of the favouritism which corrupt FIFA.
Makhaye29
0
where did you see that ass clown
No need for insulating words am just saying my opinion but I guess low intelligence will always result to insults.
haabdeimp
1
nice players
Ksing
2
ohhh god
Wiabeloptz
1
That where you know that things get weird it should be know already. It should be the team that win on 7 December but because they wanna make sure Messi is there they including competition don't deserve to be qualification rutes. Domestic league should be the merits of qualifying for the host of the club world cup finish, they making it obvious now that they favouring Messi to make sure he is there. "come on now".
where did you see that ass clown
Ade9ja
1
That where you know that things get weird it should be know already. It should be the team that win on 7 December but because they wanna make sure Messi is there they including competition don't deserve to be qualification rutes. Domestic league should be the merits of qualifying for the host of the club world cup finish, they making it obvious now that they favouring Messi to make sure he is there. "come on now".
The problem is that when you combine your hatred with your foolishness, it makes you look stup!d that's why you read and it's difficult for you to understand the simple phrase that the United States is the host country that's why they were given the slot and the two cups was recognised by Fifa that's why they are contemplating of which one to go for and your dumb a** think Fifa will leave Messi's team and choose another team who will not add any commercial value to the tournament. Fifa is not stup!d as you. I pray you find peace by the time Ronaldo lift one trophy at least since 2021 Id!ot
yesbdnorst
0
That where you know that things get weird it should be know already. It should be the team that win on 7 December but because they wanna make sure Messi is there they including competition don't deserve to be qualification rutes. Domestic league should be the merits of qualifying for the host of the club world cup finish, they making it obvious now that they favouring Messi to make sure he is there. "come on now".
Another crying baby fan base
Howbelopst
0
How many goals did he score ? 900 and what ?
SanLorenzo7
0
he worked for his family chapwa
hate has taken over your mind... you are not supposed to be watching football please
SanLorenzo7
0
That where you know that things get weird it should be know already. It should be the team that win on 7 December but because they wanna make sure Messi is there they including competition don't deserve to be qualification rutes. Domestic league should be the merits of qualifying for the host of the club world cup finish, they making it obvious now that they favouring Messi to make sure he is there. "come on now".
you are just too obsessed with Messi being a failure but you will live to see him win even more and more... after that you will see that you are already a brainless hater ... FIFA has always given a slot to the Tournament's Host nation, why is it that you are having issues with FIFA given the same opportunity to the MLS as the host??? You are such a BAD omen to the football World stop watching football please
Yohbcknpsy
1
get serious. Messi had worked for all u see his team achieve. And they will even win the MLS Cup inshaAllah. just wait and see
he worked for his family chapwa
wuyaeiptu
2
That where you know that things get weird it should be know already. It should be the team that win on 7 December but because they wanna make sure Messi is there they including competition don't deserve to be qualification rutes. Domestic league should be the merits of qualifying for the host of the club world cup finish, they making it obvious now that they favouring Messi to make sure he is there. "come on now".
get serious. Messi had worked for all u see his team achieve. And they will even win the MLS Cup inshaAllah. just wait and see
Makhaye29
1
That where you know that things get weird it should be know already. It should be the team that win on 7 December but because they wanna make sure Messi is there they including competition don't deserve to be qualification rutes. Domestic league should be the merits of qualifying for the host of the club world cup finish, they making it obvious now that they favouring Messi to make sure he is there. "come on now".
zeaeipsuy
0
never