Inter Miami has been selected to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled in the US from June 15 to July 3. The club secured its spot by winning the MLS Supporters Shield. The tournament will feature 32 teams, including top clubs from Europe and beyond, while facing criticism over its expansion. The complete draw will occur in December.
Inter Miami has been officially named as one of the participating teams in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. This tournament, comprising 32 teams, will be hosted in the United States from June 15 to July 3, 2025. The competition will feature clubs from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, North America, and one club each from Oceania and the USA.
The selection of Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, stems from their victory in the MLS Supporters Shield, which recognizes the club with the best regular season performance in Major League Soccer. This announcement follows Lionel Messi’s remarkable hat-trick that propelled Inter Miami to set the MLS regular-season points record.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed pride in Inter Miami’s inclusion, emphasizing their performance on the field: “You have shown that in the United States, you are consistently the best club on the field of play. Therefore, I am proud to announce that as one of the best clubs in the world, you are deserved participants in the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025.”
Inter Miami will join renowned teams from European leagues, such as Chelsea and Manchester City, who have already secured their spots. Other notable clubs qualifying from Europe include Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica. The final spot in the tournament will go to the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
Matches will be hosted across eight US venues, including Inter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with the final scheduled for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. However, FIFA’s decision to expand the tournament has faced criticism from clubs and players, especially after UEFA’s recent enlargements of its Champions League and Europa League formats.
Global players’ union Fifpro and the European Leagues body have jointly filed a complaint with the European Commission, voicing concerns over FIFA’s influence in football. In the last Club World Cup edition held in 2023, Manchester City claimed victory.
The draw for the full Club World Cup will take place in December, revealing the matchups for this highly anticipated event.
Inter Miami’s inclusion in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup highlights their success in Major League Soccer, particularly following their triumph in the Supporters Shield. The tournament promises to be a competitive showcase of global football talent, despite facing scrutiny regarding FIFA’s expansion plans. The upcoming draw in December will establish the specific matchups for the event, further building excitement for this landmark tournament.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
