How Messi and Inter Miami secured a spot in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup?
Inter Miami are closing in on the Supporters’ Shield and could win the trophy next week if results go their way. Recent draws against Atlanta United and New York City FC have only dented their chances of a record points haul, but the team owned and co-owned by David Beckham have reached another milestone, according to Spanish newspaper AS .
Inter Miami currently leads the Eastern Conference standings and is guaranteed to finish the MLS Points Round (with four rounds remaining) in the top four of the league standings (29 clubs). This means they have officially secured a spot in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, joining Columbus Crew, Los Angeles FC, Colorado Rapids, Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps, who are the top-performing teams in MLS Cup competitions in 2024.
There are still four more spots available for MLS teams to play in the biggest tournament in North and Central America, with LA Galaxy and FC Cincinnati the next teams to secure tickets if they achieve good results in the coming week.
In the 2024 season, Messi and Inter Miami participated in the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time thanks to winning the 2023 Leagues Cup. However, they only advanced to the quarterfinals after losing to Mexican opponent Monterrey with a total score of 2-5 after 2 matches, which took place in early April.
Continuing to participate in this tournament in the 2025 season will be an opportunity for Messi and his teammates to return to conquer the championship trophy that is missing in the collection. If they win the championship, they will qualify for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup at the end of 2025, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.
Will Inter Miami also participate in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025?
According to AS : “FIFA still leaves a “host team” slot vacant to participate in the Club World Cup in 2025, possibly to reserve it for Inter Miami. The presence of this team with the presence of Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will certainly create a fever for the FIFA tournament. This is the first time FIFA organizes the Club World Cup with a big change, including 32 of the world’s strongest clubs participating. This tournament takes place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. Therefore, MLS clubs like Inter Miami will have the opportunity to participate”.
Currently, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Leon and Pachuca are the four CONCACAF representatives participating in the tournament. The fifth team from this region is the “host team”, which FIFA still reserves on its website. Accordingly, FIFA’s website clearly states that “details of the allocation of the host club’s participation slots will be announced in due course”, creating an opportunity for Inter Miami to participate in the tournament, AS expressed.
Regarding the 2025 Club World Cup, the Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport revealed that FIFA is currently very worried and the situation could fall into chaos. So far, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has not reached agreements on television rights, tournament sponsors and has not yet determined the specific stadiums in the US that will host the matches.
It is expected that from now until the end of the year, FIFA must reach the above agreements, which can help clubs worry less when they grasp the competition schedule, participation bonuses and plans for distributing the tournament’s bonuses, according to AS .
