The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, announced last Sunday, in the middle of the Chase Stadium, immediately after Inter Miami‘s run of the New England Revolution (6-2), that Lionel Messi would fill the penultimate place for the Club World Cup, systematically . the best in the USA”, according to the director.
The emblem chaired by David Beckham, in which names such as Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez, as well as Messi, won the Supporters’ Shield (awarded to the winner of the regular season of Major League Soccer – MLS), after the record of breaking score, with 74 points, and a guaranteed presence in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Argentine “star”, who was second in the MLS regular season scorers’ table, with 20 goals in 19 games, enchanted the audience with his second hat-trick in a row, achieved in just 11 minutes (79, 81 and 90), after coming off the bench in the 58th minute, which would put an end to any doubt about which team from North America would be invited to take part in the Club World Cup.
Three days earlier, Messi – who did not renew his title as the best player in the world – scored a hat-trick and two assists for the national team, also in a raid (6-0) against Bolivia.
Messi in the first edition of the Club World Cup will cause additional interest in the competition that will bring together 32 teams and will take place in the United States between June 15 and July 13, 2025, in a kind of dress rehearsal. for the 2026 World Cup (Canada, USA and Mexico). Inter Miami will play the first meeting at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Florida.
Waiting for the Libertadores
So the Club World Cup awaits the Copa Libertadores champion to complete the batch of 32. If River Plate wins, Olimpia, from Paraguay, will be selected by classification.
In addition to FC Porto and Benfica, the English teams from Chelsea and Manchester City, the Spanish teams from Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, the German teams from Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, the Italian teams from Inter Milan and Juventus, PSG ( The France), Salzburg (Austria), Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad (Morocco), ES Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan ), Al Ain (UAE) ), Ulsan (South Korea), Monterrey (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (USA), Club León and Pachuca (Mexico), Auckland City (New Zealand), Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense ( Brazil), River Plate and Boca Juniors (Argentina). ) and Between Miami.
