Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club co-owned by David Beckham, has been announced as the latest addition to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This expanded tournament will feature 32 teams from across the globe, with matches scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 3, 2025.
The revamped Club World Cup will include 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and 12 from Asia, Africa, and North America. The final two spots will be allocated to a club from Oceania and one from the host nation, the United States. Inter Miami has been awarded the U.S. spot after securing the MLS Supporters’ Shield, an accolade given to the team with the best regular-season record in the league.
The announcement came shortly after Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami earlier this year, made headlines with a hat-trick that helped the team set a new points record in MLS history. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the club’s consistency and success on the field, stating, “You have shown that in the United States, you are consistently the best club on the field of play. 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.”
With Messi, Sergio Busquets, and potentially Luis Suarez in their squad, Inter Miami could face top European teams such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. Other notable European participants include Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica, while the final spot will go to the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
Matches will be played across eight venues in the U.S., including Inter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with the tournament’s final set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
FIFA’s decision to expand the Club World Cup has not been without controversy. The global players’ union Fifpro and the European Leagues body, representing 39 leagues and over 1,100 clubs, have raised concerns, particularly in light of UEFA’s recent expansion of both the Champions League and Europa League. A joint complaint was filed with the European Commission in July, accusing FIFA of “abuse of dominance” in football.
As excitement builds for the tournament, all eyes will be on the full draw, which is set to take place in December. The 2025 edition promises to be a historic moment for MLS and Inter Miami as they step onto the global stage.
