Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have been added to the list of entrants for next summer’s Club World Cup, setting up a potential meeting with Manchester City and a reunion with Pep Guardiola.
City have qualified for the expanded 2025 edition as a result of winning the Champions League in 2023 and the bulk of entrants are already in place. But one spot was reserved by FIFA to be allocated to the host country and FIFA resident Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday night that Inter Miami will take that place.
The decision came on the back of Miami beating New England Revolution thanks in part to a 12 minute Messi hat-trick. It means the Herons have broken Major League Soccer’s single-season points record.
Having already clinched the top play-off spot, the points record was the only target left for Inter Miami, but it looked in jeopardy early as New England took a 2-0 lead.
That advantage was erased on the edge of half-time thanks to a quickfire double from Luis Suarez. Messi had an immediate impact when he entered the game in the second half, setting up Benjamin Cremaschi to put Miami ahead in the 58th minute before sealing the victory with his late flurry of goals.
The tournament is scheduled to get under way in Miami on June 15 and will also include Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto and Benfica among others. The draw will be made in December and the final spot will be taken by the winner’s of this year’s Copa Libertadores.
“You have shown that in the United States, you are consistently the best club on the field of play,” Infantino said of Miami in announcing the decision. “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.”
