Messi and Inter Miami Awarded Spot in 2025 Club World Cup

Lionel Messi and Major League Soccer's Inter Miami were awarded a spot in next year's 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday and will host the opening game of the 32-team tournament featuring top clubs from around the world, Reuters reported.

According to the news agency, Miami, who won their first MLS Supporters' Shield this month as the club with the most points in the regular season, are the penultimate team added to the June 15-July 13 tournament being held around the United States.

"Congratulations on your wonderful 2024 Supporters' Shield success. You have shown that in the United States, you are consistently the best club on the field of play," Reuters quoted FIFA President Gianni Infantino as saying in a news release.

"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 as the host club representing the United States."

According to Reuters, the United States were always set to have a host club in the tournament, but rather than award the spot to the winner of the December 7 MLS Cup final, FIFA determined the Supporters' Shield winner recognises consistent performance over a 34-game season.

FIFA announced Miami's addition to the Club World Cup after they broke MLS's regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points. New England had set the previous record in 2021 with 73 points, added the UK-based news agency.

Source: Reuters