When Lionel Messi entered the Inter Miami roster in 2023, it became an overnight sensation and waves spread through Major League Soccer and American soccer, in general. His influence was a catapult for the city of Miami to global prominence. How shocking was that, however, when Messi’s team, without the League title in MLS, qualified for the elite competitions of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025? So, what is the magic behind it?

Usually, it is where champions from different confederations clash for global supremacy. In any given season, one of the winners is the UEFA Champions League winner, while another can be CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores champions, or champions from the rest of the world – Asia, Africa, and North America. This represents another high-profile event that basically separates the best of club football.

However, with the 2025 tournament rules somewhat twisted because this is being held in the United States, FIFA awarded the host nation an automatic qualification spot to the best-performing team from the host nation.

So, not having won the MLS Cup title yet, Inter Miami got their place by winning the Supporters Shield, which recognizes the best team in the regular season. The Supporters Shield award given to the team with the highest points in regular-season play is no small achievement.

FIFA’s plan for the Club World Cup 2025

FIFA gives a spot to the best team from the host country. This helps get local people interested and involved in the tournament. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. will be big, with 32 teams playing. This is a chance for MLS clubs to show how they are getting better on the global stage.

Lionel Messi, as everyone knows, has made all the difference for the club since joining from PSG during the summer of 2023. Quite honestly, not only did his team performance improve but brought global attention to MLS in ways never seen before. With Messi on board, everything seemed instant, and with goals, assists, and game-changing moments at Inter Miami, there seemed to be guiding lights showing them the way to their first-ever League Cup title not so long after his debut.

Inter Miami’s inclusion aligns with FIFA’s goal of increasing visibility for host nation clubs while maintaining competitive integrity. It’s a reward for the consistent excellence they demonstrated during the regular season, and who better to represent MLS than the team captained by Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time?

This will be the first time Messi plays in the FIFA Club World Cup with an American team. This adds more excitement and interest for fans around the world. Can Messi help Inter Miami win another trophy? We’ll have to wait and see. But just having Messi on the team means Inter Miami will be one of the most-watched teams in the tournament.

Well, Inter Miami earned the right to host the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 without winning the MLS Cup. They gathered the most points in the regular season and got the Supporters’ Shield. Now, the whole world is excited to see if Messi will add one more trophy to his excellent collection.

In football, victory has many forms. For Inter Miami, making it to the Club World Cup showed that staying steady all season can be more valuable than winning the final trophy. A consistent approach during the season can matter more than magic at the end.