By Jake Nisse
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Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami will play in the newly-expanded 2025 Club World Cup, according to reports.
The tournament, which will run from June 15 to July 13, will feature 32 teams spanning from six continents, including the likes of Man City, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
And it can now be revealed that Miami – the winners of last year’s Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield winner this year in MLS – will be the final team included in the competition.
CONCACAF was awarded four spots for the tournament, but was also allotted a fifth team to represent the region given that the United States is hosting the tournament.
MLS’ Seattle Sounders and Mexican clubs Monterrey, Leon and Pachuca will also represent North America in the tournament.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are set to be included in the newly-expanded Club World Cup
The tournament will feature 12 UEFA clubs, including Manchester City and Chelsea
South American giants River Plate and Boca Juniors will also be included, while PSG, Inter Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Porto and Atletico Madrid will play in the tournament as well.
In total, UEFA have been granted 12 spots, CONMEBOL have gotten six, the Asian and African federations have received four apiece and Oceania one – in addition to five for CONCACAF.
While FIFA president Gianni Infantino appeared at New York City’s Global Citizen Festival last month to announce the tournament’s 12 host sites and drum up interest for the event, the expanded format has drawn criticism from FIFPRO.
The international players’ union said in December that the tournament ‘will undercut the rest and recovery time of these players at the end of the 2024-25 season.
They added that the tournament ”demonstrates a lack of consideration for the mental and physical health of participating players, as well as a disregard for their personal and family lives.’
The tournament’s final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with other notable host sites including the Rose Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and FIFPRO president David Aganzo were pictured in Miami
As previously reported by Sky Sports, clubs will have to take their strongest squads to the tournament and field their strongest teams.
On Tuesday, Infantino was pictured in Miami with FIFPRO and AFE (Association of Spanish Footballers) president David Aganzo in Miami, who wrote that there were ‘urgent matters to be discussed that affect the footballers.’
‘We must be heard and participate in decision-making,’ he continued.
For his part, Infantino wrote, ‘FIFA continues to work with player bodies to ensure player welfare remains a priority and I look forward to continue working with David and everyone at the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) to achieve this goal.
Messi and Miami will begin their first MLS postseason together later this month.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
