Inter Miami was given a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and will play in the opening game on June 15 at Hard Rock Stadium. Inter Miami was chosen by FIFA as the host country representative based on winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield for compiling the best record over the 34-game regular season. Most leagues around the world crown champions based on regular season records and do not use a playoff system, so FIFA “chose to give the spot to the reigning Supporters’ Shield winner” over the defending MLS champion Crew. Inter Miami’s roster including F Lionel Messi also “didn’t hurt their case.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended Inter Miami’s regular season finale against the Revolution on Saturday and “delivered the news at a post-game ceremony.” Inter Miami is one of two MLS teams in the field, along with the Sounders who qualified by winning the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2022 (MIAMI HERALD, 10/20).
The other 31 teams in the Club World Cup field “qualified or will qualify on clearly defined sporting merit.” When FIFA finalized the criteria and format last year, it “left one spot open to a team from the host country,” the U.S., and “never said how that spot would be allocated.” Sources speculated that FIFA all along was “searching for a way to get Messi and Miami into the tournament” — which has “struggled to attract sponsors and broadcasters amid resistance from the European soccer establishment” (YAHOO SPORTS, 10/19).
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