It places the USSF in a predicament that has left the soccer world tongue-tied: with the highly publicized first-ever version of the 2025 Club World Cup, there is yet to be clarification on who represents the U.S. in that tournament. The question, in particular, has been subject to much speculation since the action by Inter Miami-star player Lionel Messi's team-in claiming the Supporters' Shield in the MLS. Yet, for now at any rate, it would seem not to be a spot that's confirmed.
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With the number increasing to 32 of the best teams in the world for the Club World Cup, it will be a historical tournament. What better setting could there be than in the United States with its mega stadiums carrying legendary names? It would appear this might be the time and place for Messi and his Inter Miami to take center stage. Will FIFA along with the USSF see it that way? What appears straightforward and obvious may actually be quite a bit more complicated.
FIFA and Inter Miami: Expectation vs. Reality
When one speaks about Lionel Messi, one does not fail to recognize how much weight carries over with the name. An Argentine among the best-for many, the best-the guarantee of global viewing, sponsors, huge media exposure, and a maelstrom of attention. With Messi's new home, Inter Miami, having won the Supporters' Shield as the best regular season record in MLS, their inclusion in the 2025 Club World Cup would be automatic, right?
Well, for now, FIFA hasn't confirmed Inter Miami's presence in that tournament. It might sound contradictory, taking into consideration how Messi would affect the competition, but there is a strategic issue at play. The USSF would rather wait until the end of the MLS playoffs, starting in October and ending in December. That is because the spot could go to the winner of the MLS Cup, decided through a very unpredictable knockout format that has much historical and symbolic weight in naming the league champion.
The Uncertainty Around Choosing the U.S. Representative
Ah, the plot thickens. Despite winning the Supporters' Shield, Inter Miami still has to actually seal its place in the Club World Cup. Why? Well, FIFA and the USSF have more ways than one to see which team should get the privilege. Usually, on the international scene, it falls to the national champion. And for this, Inter Miami still faces an uphill task.
The MLS playoffs are in the knockout format, where the tussle for the title goes up to 18 teams. So, having the best regular season doesn't always give one success, similar to how we have witnessed time and again around the world. Playoffs are altogether different, replete with surprises and upsets that can send the topmost favorite out of the reckoning. Should Inter Miami want to ensure it qualifies for the Club World Cup, winning the MLS Cup would be the most concrete route to guarantee such a position.
On the other hand, the anticipation of seeing Messi in the first-ever Club World Cup is immense. As it were, the tournament held in the U.S. would mean FIFA had the biggest sports icon playing on home soil-a dream come true. Just think Messi's magic on display during the opening game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the whole world watching.
The Club World Cup Schedule vs. MLS: A Timing Challenge
The MLS schedule does little to make their lives any easier. The call on the U.S. representative has to be made ahead of the group stage draw for the Club World Cup, scheduled for the second week of December, right after the MLS Cup final on December 7. That tight timeline makes the process even more delicate.
Both the USSF and FIFA know full well that beyond the sporting interest, there are commercial interests. Putting Inter Miami-which will have Messi on their roster-in the tournament brings an unparalleled spotlight on the event. At the same time, pulling a fast one for them against a qualification system that favors the MLS Cup winner may raise controversy when that can be completely unnecessary, for sure, within the clubs in playoffs.
Either way, it'll be a day to remember. The final is set to take place in MetLife Stadium near New York City, and millions will tune in worldwide, no matter which of the two U.S. sides represents the country.
Inter Miami: An Upcoming Force
Whatever may be the outcome, one thing is certain: Inter Miami will never be the same since the day Messi and Luis Suárez joined the team. And boy, has it moved from mid-table mediocrity with two of the biggest names in soccer to being one of the most dreaded sides in MLS. The win in the Supporters' Shield underlined this meteoric rise, with some impressive stats that catapulted Miami to become one of the standout teams this season.
This rapid evolution also creates big expectations regarding playoffs and, of course, a possible spot in the Club World Cup. Now, the question will be if Inter Miami could keep this rhythm in the MLS Cup knockout stages or if their rivals can find the way to cool down this explosive attack.
Either way, Messi's arrival to Inter Miami changed the scene of soccer in the U.S. Viewership and interest in the sport have never been so high, and huge excitement lies ahead for the next months, both in the sports market and in the media.