Amid controversy over complaints from footballers, who accuse an increase in the number of matches per season, the renewed FIFA Club World Cup is almost ready for its 2025 edition, which will be played in the United States.
According to the criteria of
30 of the 32 teams that will participate in the tournament have already been defined. And this opens a huge window for Argentine Lionel Messi to take part in the tournament with his club, Inter Miami.
“Who wouldn’t like to participate in a Club World Cup?”, said Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino, also from Argentina, when referring to the uncertainty surrounding which MLS team will complete the group of representatives in the tournament.
Lionel Messi
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“We have our goals for this year, what lies ahead, but the other part and the way we qualify will be determined by those who have to decide,” said Martino in the press conference prior to the MLS match at Atlanta United’s ground, where Messi will play again.
“Obviously we would like to. Who wouldn’t like to take part in a Club World Cup?” he asked.
The host country has the right to one team in the tournament.
The United States has already secured a spot in the Club World Cup for the Seattle Sounders, as winners of the 2022 Concacaf Champions League. But as the host country, it can send one more team to the new tournament as a guest.
There has been speculation for months about what criteria will be used to select the final representative of the United States, with Leo Messi’s Inter Miami, the 2023 Leagues Cup champions, in the spotlight.
It is FIFA that decides who gets the spot and it is possible that the last ticket will be given to the local league champion, and not to the Leagues Cup champion, sources close to the MLS assured EFE.
Messi made his return to action for his club on Saturday against Philadelphia Union, scoring two goals and assisting Luis Suarez after overcoming an ankle injury that had kept him out of action since July 14, when Argentina beat Colombia in the Copa America final.
“He’s going to travel to Atlanta and New York. There are three games in one week, including travel, so you have to look at it day by day and try not to expose yourself to injuries. Messi’s preparation was different from others. In this case, the 15 days of international training were almost like a tune-up. He was fine and he completed the match,” said Martino.
Apart from the host country’s representative, there is only one spot left to be defined in the Club World Cup, and that is the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. If the winner is Flamengo, Fluminense or River Plate, who already have a spot, it would go to Olimpia of Paraguay.
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