Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have learned their path for the upcoming Club World Cup, which will kick off next year. The host team, invited by FIFA despite some criticism from the soccer community, will face Egyptian club Al Ahly in the tournament’s opening match on June 15. Inter Miami is part of a competitive group that also includes Palmeiras and Porto.
The opening matches of the tournament will feature several high-profile encounters, including Paris Saint-Germain taking on Atletico Madrid and Brazilian club Botafogo facing Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders in Group B. In Group E, Monterrey will compete against Inter Milan, while Group H will see Real Madrid go head-to-head with Saudi club Al-Hilal. This matchup could showcase superstars Kylian Mbappé for Real Madrid and Neymar for Al-Hilal, assuming Neymar remains with the Saudi club.
Ken Griffey Jr., a baseball legend and member of the Sounders’ ownership group, expressed excitement about the tournament, stating, “Anytime that you have certain things where soccer is big and you bring it to the U.S., it’s going to be a great atmosphere and entertaining.” The Sounders will have the opportunity to compete against PSG during group play.
The draw for the tournament took place on Thursday in Miami, revealing the first three opponents for the 32 participating teams in this newly expanded event. The Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. from June 15 to July 13, utilizing 12 stadiums across 11 cities. The final is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final.
Among the elite clubs participating are Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan, alongside the top four teams from South America: Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, and Fluminense.
As the host nation representative, Inter Miami will have the honor of playing the tournament’s first match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the event’s goal of inclusivity, stating, “It’s about bringing clubs from all over the world, the 32 best clubs and best players together.”
Despite the prestige of the tournament, some critics have questioned Inter Miami’s inclusion, especially after the team that won the Supporters Shield as the best MLS team in the regular season was eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. However, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas dismissed the controversy, asserting, “There’s no controversy.”
Major League Soccer will have two representatives in the tournament: Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami. The Sounders qualified based on their performance, while Inter Miami was included as the host nation’s representative.
The tournament will follow the traditional 32-team format, previously used in the World Cup from 1998 to 2022, with eight round-robin groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to a knockout stage of 16.
In terms of representation, Europe secured 12 spots, South America six, while Africa, Asia, and North America each received four. Inter Miami effectively counts as a fifth North American entry due to its host status, and Oceania has one spot.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber commented on the selection process, stating, “There is no rule that said the MLS Cup winner needs to be in the Club World Cup. I have no interest in anything other than what I think is going to be best for the showcase and our league. I am supportive of the decision that FIFA made and I’m excited to put Miami and Seattle in a global media deal.”
Mas expressed pride in Inter Miami’s role in the tournament, calling it “a testament to our community and the soccer culture that’s here.” He reflected on the club’s rapid ascent, saying, “Who would have told us five years ago, with no club, that we’d be here today at a draw with the best teams in the world? That’s what we aspire to. That’s what we dream of.”
Group Stage Draw:
- Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
- Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle
- Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
- Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon
- Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan
- Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns
- Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
- Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg
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