OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami qualify for FIFA Club World Cup as host club
Inter Miami and Lionel Messi have made it to next year's FIFA Club World Cup, the club confirmed on Saturday, October 19. The Herons will host the opening game of the tournament, which will feature the top 32 clubs from around the world.
The Florida-based side have enjoyed a spectacular rise since the arrival of the diminutive Argentinian at the Chase Stadium in the summer of 2023. Last season, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner helped the club win the first title of their history, the Leagues Cup.
Inter Miami have built on that achievement this year, with Lionel Messi powering them to the Supporters' Shield. The Herons finished the season on the top of the Eastern Conference league, registering a record 74 points.
The Argentinian has, once again, been key to the team's success. The 37-year-old has registered 22 goals and 12 assists from 22 games across competitions this season. With 33 goals from 36 games so far, Lionel Messi is now the Florida-based club's record goalscorer.
Inter Miami are now preparing for the big prize, the MLS Cup, with the playoffs scheduled for later this month. The Herons have now been included as the penultimate team in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, to be held from June 15 to July 13 across the United States.
FIFA announced the decision after Saturday's 6-2 win over New England Revolution at Chase Stadium. Instead of awarding the place to the MLS Cup winner, the football governing body deemed the Supporters' Shield success good enough for the job.
Has Lionel Messi won the FIFA Club World Cup before?
Lionel Messi previously won the FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona in 2009, 2011, and 2015. The Argentinian will now be aiming to create history with Inter Miami next year, by becoming the first American club to win the esteemed trophy.
Few would bet against the six-time European Golden Shoe winner. Messi might be at the tail end of his career, but he has shown no signs of slowing down as yet.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner registered his 10th hattrick with Argentina last week, in a 6-0 thumping of Bolivia. Last Thursday, he was awarded the MARCA America Award, billed in social media as the GOAT Award.
On Saturday, he scored his first hattrick for the Herons. La Pulga is the football player with the most trophies in the world, picking up his record-extending 46th trophy with Inter Miami this year.