FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
Club World Cup

Miami becomes the heart of soccer: two World Cups, Messi, Inter...

Leo's emergence forced FIFA to change its Club World Cup policy

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, shakes hands with FIFA...
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.LAPRESSE

Miami will be the center of the 'soccer planet' today with the draw for the Club World Cup in which, among others, Real Madrid and Atletico will participate. The Florida city will also be the venue for the opening match (on Sunday, June 15, 2025) of this World Cup. Then, the final will be on July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, exactly one year before the final of the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA, with its president Gianni Infantino, has focused on the eastern United States to host this first Club World Cup because, among other things, at the same time the Gold Cup, the continental competition of the Concacaf Confederation, will be taking place in the west of the country.

FIFA President Infantino announces Inter Miami to Club World Cup

Infantino, the 'boss' of the international body, was clear that Miami should be part of this Super World Cup, as it will also host the 2026 World Cup. In a clever move, he travelled to Miami in October to stage the invitation to Inter, Leo Messi's team, as a special guest of the host country to the Club World Cup. He had the perfect excuse that on that day, October 19, Inter was celebrating at home (Chase Stadium) the achievement of the ers Shield, the title that distinguishes the champion of the regular season of MLS (which in Europe is not usually celebrated), without waiting (for which he received criticism) for the overall winner of MLS (it will be LA Galaxy or NY Red Bull).

Infantino wanted to bring into the World Cup equation an Inter Miami side that, with Lionel Messi, is growing as a global football icon. That is why Miami will feature in the Club World Cup (opening match) and in the 2026 World Cup.

With the Argentine No. 10, tourists no longer come to Miami just to visit the beaches, but to see in person a match of an Inter team that will be in the draw today

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