FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Inter Miami will be the host team at next year’s expanded Club World Cup in the US.
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 in Fort Lauderdale 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-campaign 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 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 now over, 18 teams will advance to the MLS Cup playoffs, with the postseason’s winning team crowned this year’s kings of the US and Canadian league.
However, there is little doubt that Miami star Messi’s presence at the Club World Cup would represent 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 TV 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).
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.
Iffy106
262
Back to back hatrick without penalty the greatest of all time no one come closer to him
GopsAmeshu
167
Once upon a time when people say Ronaldo is the GOAT it use to make sense but after Messi World cup and 8 Ballon Dor saying Ronaldo is the GOAT is to be laughed at because it doesn't make sense to those who know football.
Headboy61
71
🤣🤣🤣🤣 bayern Leverkusen win last year.... why are they not qualifying for club world cup 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Kobabcku
31
🤣🤣🤣🤣 bayern Leverkusen win last year.... why are they not qualifying for club world cup 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
so many of you just want to see Messi fail so anything he achieves you try to rubbish it with claims of favouritism. you didn't ask how almost 10 European teams qualified, 4 African teams, 4 Asian teams, or 3 Mexican teams, you didn't even ask how Seattle who plays in the same league with Miami qualified....your problem is Messi.