Lionel Messi could face Real Madrid one last time as FIFA announce Inter Miami for Club World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Inter Miami's information successful the 32-team, 2025 Club World Cup aft Lionel Messi captained the MLS squad to a record-breaking regular season

Lionel Messi could look Real Madrid 1 past clip aft FIFA announced that his Inter Miami squad volition vie successful the 2025 Club World Cup connected US soil.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed connected Saturday that the MLS Eastern Conference champions, who boast 4 Barcelona legends successful Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, volition vie successful the tourney aft pursuing their record-breaking nighttime against the New England Revolution, wherever they lifted the Supporters' Shield for having the champion regular play record.

Infantino made the announcement connected the tract astatine Chase Stadium successful Fort Lauderdale pursuing the 6-2 win, which saw three-time Club World Cup victor Messi travel disconnected the substitutes seat and people a 33-minute hat-trick - his 2nd successful his past 2 games for nine and country.

"We each cognize however Miami is successful emotion with shot and however Inter Miami is supported from crossed Florida and beyond for your breathtaking marque of football," said Infantino. "Congratulations connected your fantastic 2024 Supporters' Shield success. You person shown that successful the United States, you are consistently the champion nine connected the tract of play.

"Therefore, I americium arrogant to denote that arsenic 1 of the champion clubs successful the world, you are deserved participants successful the caller FIFA Club World Cup 2025 arsenic the big nine representing the United States."

Infantino besides announced that Inter Miami volition big the inaugural match, scheduled for July 15, 2025, wrong the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium. "We are looking guardant to you hosting the opening match," helium added.

"It's definite to beryllium a large solemnisation for planetary nine shot arsenic the tourney features the champion 32 clubs successful the satellite and provides a caller accidental for clubs, players, coaches and fans alike to instrumentality their stories to the world."

Next year's contention volition beryllium the archetypal since being expanded to 32 teams. FIFA awarded 12 spots to Europe, six to South America, 4 each to North America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and 1 to Oceania. Reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid person already been announced arsenic 1 of the 32 teams.

Messi could look his longtime rivals from his Barcelona days perchance for the past clip successful a competitory setting. In 47 games against Los Blancos, Messi scored 26 goals and provided 14 assists, and helium was connected the losing broadside conscionable 16 times.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or victor and World Cup-winning Argentine past played Real successful the Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain successful 2022. However, helium was incapable to assistance the Parisians past the La Liga outfit arsenic they searched for a club-first Champions League.