FIFA president Gianni Infantino has officially announced that Inter Miami, Lionel Messi’s club, will be the host team for the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

This upcoming edition, set to feature 32 teams, will take place in the United States between June and July.

Infantino confirmed the news following Inter Miami’s dominant 6-2 victory over New England Revolution in their final match of the 2024 MLS regular season.

This win secured Miami the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record, and set a new points record for a single MLS campaign.

Best Team of the Season in America

In his post-match speech at Chase Stadium, Infantino praised the team, saying, “Miami loves football, the world loves football, and the world loves Miami. Congratulations on winning the Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking season. You are the best team of the season in America.”

He added, “Based on your exceptional performance, you have earned qualification for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

As the host team, you will have the honor of playing the tournament’s opening game at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in front of 65,000 fans and millions of viewers worldwide.”

Miami’s Qualification Stirs Debate

Despite Miami’s achievement, some fans have expressed dissatisfaction since winning the Supporters’ Shield doesn’t make them the overall MLS champions.

The 2024 MLS Cup playoffs will determine the league’s official champion, with 18 teams competing for the title.

However, Messi’s presence in the Club World Cup is expected to generate major excitement and help FIFA secure crucial broadcasting deals for the revamped competition, as the organization has faced challenges selling TV rights.

2025 Club World Cup Teams and Host Cities

With Inter Miami’s confirmation, 31 of the 32 available spots for the 2025 Club World Cup have been filled. The final place will go to the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, currently at the semi-final stage, with teams such as Atlético Mineiro, Botafogo, River Plate, and Peñarol still in contention.

Participating teams come from across the globe, including clubs from:

–Africa (CAF):Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns
–Asia (AFC): Al Ain, Al-Hilal, Ulsan HD, Urawa Red Diamonds
–Europe (UEFA): Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, RB Salzburg, Real Madrid
–CONCACAF: Club León, Inter Miami, Monterrey, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders
–South America (CONMEBOL): Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras, River Plate
–Oceania (OFC): Auckland City

The tournament will be hosted in various US cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, New York-New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

Club World Cup Draw

The official draw for the 2025 Club World Cup is expected in December 2024, though FIFA has yet to confirm the exact date.

Following David Beckham’s team’s victory, FIFA’s president officially announced Inter Miami as the penultimate team to qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

According to FIFA’s recent statement, this honor comes after Inter Miami clinched the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, marking them as Major League Soccer’s top-performing team during the regular season.

Acknowledging Inter Miami’s consistent performance throughout a 34-match campaign, FIFA confirmed the club’s qualification as the host nation’s representative team for the upcoming tournament. Inter Miami will open the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in their hometown on June 15, hosting the inaugural match.

With Inter Miami’s inclusion, only one slot remains to complete the 32 teams competing in the 2025 Club World Cup roster.

The winner of the Copa Libertadores, scheduled for November 30 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will determine the final position.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA‘s president, made the official announcement following Inter Miami’s match against New England Revolution at Chase Stadium.

Reflecting on Miami’s passion for football and Inter Miami’s broad support across Florida, Infantino praised the club’s exciting style of play and congratulated them on their remarkable achievement in securing the Supporters’ Shield.

FIFA has allocated 12 spots for UEFA, six for CONMEBOL, four each for CONCACAF and CAF, and one for OFC in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Teams like Inter Miami and Real Madrid have already secured their places in what promises to be an exciting international football showcase.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have maintained their 39th position in the latest FIFA world rankings, despite securing four points in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The updated rankings, released by FIFA on Thursday morning, also see Nigeria holding 6th place in Africa.

While the Super Eagles achieved a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin’s Cheetahs and played out a 0-0 draw against Rwanda’s Amavubi, these results were insufficient to improve their global standing.

Nigeria slipped from 38th to 39th in the rankings a few months ago due to a string of underwhelming performances and has remained in the same spot.

On the African continent, Nigeria still trails behind football powerhouses like Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tunisia. However, with a new coaching team in place, the Super Eagles will have another opportunity to climb the rankings during the next AFCON qualifiers in October.

Top 10 African Teams in the Latest FIFA Rankings:

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Egypt
4. Côte d’Ivoire
5. Tunisia
6. Nigeria
7. Algeria
8. Cameroon
9. Mali
10. DR Congo

Despite their current rank, Nigeria still holds an advantage over other notable African football nations like Ghana, South Africa, and Cameroon.

However, the Super Eagles’ recent challenges in international competitions have kept them stagnant in the rankings, despite the team’s rich footballing legacy and immense potential.

Meanwhile, teams like Algeria (41st), Congo (58th), and Burkina Faso (63rd) have made gains in the rankings. In contrast, Cameroon dropped to 53rd, while South Africa (59th) and Ghana (70th) have also experienced declines.

With an important AFCON qualifier on the horizon, the Super Eagles will be eager to break their current ranking plateau and see their efforts reflected in future updates.