Inter Miami's Club World Cup controversy as Beckham and Messi prepare for bow

David Beckham's Inter Miami are set to star at the FIFA Club World Cup with Lionel Messi in tow, but their qualification for the revamped tournament was somewhat controversial

David Beckham's Inter Miami are all set to host the FIFA Club World Cup opener with frontman Lionel Messi, but the side's inclusion in the tournament initially sparked backlash. The MLS franchise were selected as one of the 32 participating teams in October last year.

The revamped Club World Cup selects top sides from across the globe to do battle over a month-long competition in the United States, and it will kick off with perennial Egyptian champions Al Ahly facing Beckham's outfit in front of an anticipated 62,000-strong Miami crowd.

Inter Miami were named Supporters' Shield winners last year after amassing an MLS record 74 regular-season points. However, this did not mean they were crowned MLS champions.

The accolade they claimed is a trophy given to the side with the best regular-season record. While the Florida-based club then progressed into the MLS play-offs, they lost in the first round to Atlanta United.

Nonetheless, their place at the Club World Cup was confirmed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino under rather controversial circumstances, as the selection criteria had not been laid out at the time, and eventual MLS champions, LA Galaxy, would eventually be omitted.

Co-owner Beckham once plied his trade in Los Angeles, and it was on the back of this move that, 11 years ago, the ball got rolling on the Manchester United icon investing in an MLS expansion franchise.

Inter Miami began playing in 2020, and three years later, they secured the groundbreaking signing of global superstar Messi from PSG. Their purpose-built Freedom Park stadium is set to open in 2026.

The marketability and pull of stars like Messi and some of his team-mates, including Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are why many were quick to criticise FIFA's decision to hastily include Inter Miami as the host team of the Club World Cup, as they accused FIFA of favoritism.

Speaking in October at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale after Inter Miami had beaten New England Revolution, president Infantino confirmed the club's qualification, and admitted: "Miami loves football, the world loves football, and the world loves Miami. 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, for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025," he revealed.

"And third, as the host team of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, you will have the honour of opening the tournament by hosting the opening game here in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium in front of 65,000 people and tens of millions at home."

Chelsea and Manchester City will join Inter Miami at the Club World Cup. The English pair qualified for the competition after winning the UEFA Champions League in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

Enzo Maresca's side begin their campaign on Monday against Los Angeles FC, and the Cityzens face an unknown entity in the form of 2022 CAF Champions League winners Wydad AC, or WAC Casablanca, on Wednesday. The tournament runs from June 15 until July 13, with the final scheduled to take place at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

DAZN has the rights to the full competition in the UK and the only way football fans can watch every game of the tournament free is by signing up here as part of a DAZN Freemium subscription.