Here’s How Lionel Messi & Inter Miami Can Nail Club World Cup Qualification in Twenty Twenty-Five

It appears as though southern Florida-based Inter Miami is becoming a powerhouse on the world soccer circuit, with its recent MLS Supporters’ Shield (first place league finish) securing the club an automatic spot in the 2025 FIFA World Cup next fall. As the tournament takes place on American territory, no club emerges as a more obvious candidate to claim a resounding victory for Major League Soccer (MLS) than Inter Miami, Lionel Messi-fronted and backed by co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas.

FIFA also revealed that they will expand the 2025 Club World Cup and offer four slots to CONCACAF teams. By virtue of the champions, here are the years in which Rayados (2021), Seattle Sounders (2022), León (2023), and Pachuca (2024) hold those slots. Unfortunately for CF Montréal, as the host nation, the U.S. gets an extra slot and all indications are that Inter Miami will be taking it up. If this were to occur, it would be history in the making for MLS, as Messi could put Inter Miami on the map globally. But what does Inter Miami need to qualify for the Club World Cup?

There are still two spots available. One will go to the Copa Libertadores champions this year (the semi-finals, which pit River Plate against Atlético Mineiro and Peñarol against Botafogo, take place at the end of this month). As the tournament hosts, a team from the United States will get the final spot. It is still unclear whether the team will get the guest spot—the one that takes home the Supporters’ Shield or the one that is crowned winners on December 7.

In any case, Inter Miami already has a 50% probability of getting chosen because they won the Supporters’ Shield. To secure a spot in the next Club World Cup, winning the MLS Cup is the only surefire method. However, let’s go through the list of all 2025 Club World Cup participants.

List of Participants for the 2025 Club World Cup

To date, 30 clubs have confirmed their participation in the event, which takes place from June 15 to July 13, 2025. The 2024 Copa Libertadores champion and the host country will occupy the remaining spots:

Al Ahly (Egypt) – CAF Champions League winner 2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24
Wydad (Morocco) – CAF supports League winner 2021/22
ES Tunis (Tunisia) – CAF Ranking
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – CAF Ranking
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – AFC Champions League winner 2021
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – AFC Champions League winner 2022
Al Ain (UAE) – AFC Champions League 2023/24
Ulsan HD FC (Korea) – AFC Ranking
Chelsea (England) – UEFA Champions League winner 2020/21
Real Madrid (Spain) – UEFA Champions League winner 2021/22
Manchester City (England) – UEFA Champions League winner 2022/23
Bayern Munich (Germany) – UEFA Ranking
PSG (France) – UEFA Ranking
Inter Milan (Italy) – UEFA Ranking
Porto (Portugal) – UEFA Ranking
Benfica (Portugal) – UEFA Ranking
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – UEFA Ranking
Juventus (Italy) – UEFA Ranking
Atlético Madrid (Spain) – UEFA Ranking
FC Salzburg (Austria) – UEFA Ranking
Monterrey (Mexico) – Concacaf Champions League winner 2021
Seattle Sounders (USA) – Concacaf Champions League winner 2022
Club León (Mexico) – Concacaf Champions League winner 2023
Auckland City (New Zealand) – OFC Ranking
Palmeiras (Brazil) – Conmebol Libertadores winner 2021
Flamengo (Brazil) – Conmebol Libertadores winner 2022
Fluminense (Brazil) – Conmebol Libertadores winner 2023
River Plate (Argentina) – Conmebol Ranking