Liam Happe
As the maiden draw for the new-look Club World Cup format approaches, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have been placed in Pot 4.
The ‘host club’ of the event, the MLS Supporters Shield winners are invitees and could be facing a number of world juggernauts as the tournament expands to a full 32-team deal, similar to international World Cup formats over the last few decades.
Here’s a rundown of the pots, and who to look out for in the draw as a Messi or Inter Miami fan.
They’re in Pot 4 of 4, making it likely their group is a tough one.
However, with Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and more under new head coach Javier Mascherano —as well as home field advantage for some of the tournament —they’ll be fancying their chances of a good run.
Each group at the Club World Cup will comprise of one team from Pot 1, a team from Pot 2, one from Pot 3 and one from Pot 4.
With Miami being in Pot 4, we know they’ll face one team each from 1, 2 and 3.
In Pot 1 are Real Madrid, whom Messi and some of his current team-mates (and new head coach) tormented many times on behalf of Barcelona in numerous editions of El Clasico.
Barca themselves, however, did not qualify for the tournament based on Champions League performances.
Paris Saint-Germain are in, though. Messi played there for a while after leaving Camp Nou.
The Argentine may also be drawn with the country’s own River Plate, also n Pot 1 with PSG and Real, or Pot 3’s Boca Juniors. Such a draw would also be a fun sub-plot for Mascherano.
There will be no all-MLS tie in the group stage, though, with the Seattle Sounders also in Pot 4. They could meet later in the tournament, if both clubs overcome tough draws to reach the knockouts.
MORE: All the latest soccer action | Lionel Messi news
Liam is a freelance editor for The Sporting News working across global English editions.
