Why are Inter Miami at the Club World Cup? Lionel Messi kicks off tournament Saturday vs. Al-Ahly

Of the many, many claims there are The World Cup ClubFew have matched the qualification process for one team in particular. Participating in a field of continental champions and some of the best performing teams from all over the world is a side that has never won their domestic competition, nor an international trophy at top level in their short history.

Since he was founded in January 2018, Inter Miami has won a competition cup and a single MLS supporters shield, the price that was handed over to the team with the best regular season record prior to the play -offs. It is for that reason that FIFA decided that the herons should join the field for the World Cup 2025 Club. Only that reason. Absolute. It would certainly have nothing to do with the fact that they happen to use one of the most tradable and talented figures in the history of football: Lionel Messi.

The Stardust does not end there. David Beckham is co-owner and you can hardly go anywhere in Chase Stadium without encountering a member of the Barcelona side who won the Treble in 2015: Javier Mascherano Coaching former teammates Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. This was a team that won many matches in the 2024 ml season, at least until the individual competitions real, Real Made it out and they met Brad Guzan and the rest of an inspired Atlanta United. The favorites to lift the MLS Cup, Inter Miami poured out one of the play -offs in the round. La Galaxy would be crowned champion of America.

It is of course not entirely unusual that the hosts of the club World Cup will have a place in this competition. In 2023 it was Al-Actihad who participated, the competition champions that represent the host country Saudi Arabia. Less than two years later, the US will have three clubs in the competition: Seattle Sounders as 2022 Concacaf Champions League Champions, reports from Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami, from the first round of the 2024 Play -Offs.

By that time, however, they knew they would play at the club World Cup. “You have shown that in the United States you are consistently the best club at the game of the game,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the time. “That is why I am proud to announce that you are one of the best clubs in the world to have participants in the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025.”

FIFA announced that the Supporters Shield -winner would represent the host country after the end of the regular season, but before the play -offs, reasoning that they wish the representative came from competition game and not knock -out football. Every other of the 32 qualified on the basis of their performance in Knock -Out Competitions.

Did you know that you can view the entire 2025 FIFA Club World Cup live on Dazn (free)?

How the rest came in the World Cup Club

For half of the field, their passage to the club World Cup was fairly orthodox. They won their respective continental competitions between 2021 and 2024, so that they can move to the world stage. Only one such team is missing with FIFA that concludes that Concacaf Champions League winners club Leon from 2023 could not play in the same competition as Pachuca, with whom they share owners. A playing match between La FC and Club America, the best -performing North -American side between 2021 and 2024 that the competition had not won, saw the first overcoming.

Only one federation is not guaranteed to send all his champions. One place is reserved for Oceania, reserved for his best performing Champions League winner. In each of the last three years that has been Auckland City, so that is at least simple.

The rest of the field consists of the best performing non-champions of each federation. Asia has sent such a side, while Africa, where Al-Ahly has won three of the last four cafe champions competitions, added two in Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns.

The image is more complicated in Europe and South America. In March 2023, the FIFA council agreed that each nation would be limited to two representatives at the World Cup club, unless each team was champion of their respective confederation. Brazilian parties have won each of the last four Copa Libertadores and, despite the fact that Atletico Mineiro reached a final and semi -final since 2021, they missed the river plate of Argentina and Boca Juniors.

In England, Liverpool was now locked up when Manchester City came to Chelsea as the winners of the Champions League and they were not eligible for the 2023-24 tournament. Barcelona has also built up more ranking points than Benfica and Juventus, but not than 2024 Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid champion.

How you already Ahly vs. Inter Miami can view, opportunities

• Date: Saturday, June 14 | Time8 p.m. and
• Location: Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida
• Live stream: Dazn
• Chances: Al Ahly +210; Sign +250; Inter Miami +110