Inter Miami will officially be heading to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. After winning the 2024 MLS Shield in the regular season, the Herons secured the 31st spot in the tournament. But not everything is finalized as one spot is yet to be filled to complete the 32-team group. Interestingly, this brings up a unique question as to whether the winners of the impending MLS Cup will also be able to qualify for this prestigious global tournament to join Lionel Messi and Co.

It’s only fair to ask this query, considering all the remaining and deserving teams around the world have qualified in every possible way. However, to break the ice early for you, it certainly ain’t going to be the potential MLS Cup winners—a distinction decided among the top 9 teams of both Eastern and Western Conference compete in knockout rounds to qualify for the final to win the crown.

Then who will be the last and the final 32nd team to make the Club World Cup? Well, according to FIFA, the winner of the 2024 CONMEBOL Libertadores will get the direct and final entry in the competition. For those unaware, it is basically the Champions League for South American clubs. Currently, the Copa Libertadores is in the semifinal stage.

Brazilian side Atletico Minerio is facing Argentinian side River Plate, while the other two teams include another Brazilian side Botafogo facing Uruguay-based Penarol. Either team that wins the Copa Libertadores will get an entry into the 2025 CWC. Hence, there’s no chance for the impending MLS Cup winner to make their way into the FIFA-led domestic tournament.

Inter Miami were not only awarded a spot in the Club World Cup due to their Supporters’ Shield triumph but also because of the fact that the United States is hosting the 2025 CWC, giving the David Beckham-owned club an automatic place. Though it wasn’t decided by Major League Soccer, whether they would be giving the spot to the Shield or Cup winners, FIFA anyway took the call to hand over the spot to Lionel Messi and Co.  

As for the impending MLS Cup, the winner shall typically earn a spot in another international competition like the next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. Now that the doubt is clear, let’s see which other teams are there in the Club World Cup.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are set to face some competition in the FIFA Club World Cup!

Starting with Africa, four teams have qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup. These include three teams via the champions’ pathway through the CAF Champions League which includes Al Ahly (Egypt) and Wydad (Morocco). Additionally, ES Tunis (Tunisia) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) secured their spots via the CAF ranking pathway.

From Asia, four teams have made their way into the tournament. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), and Al Ain (UAE) have qualified via AFC Champions League victories, while Ulsan Hyundai FC (South Korea) earned a place through the AFC ranking pathway.

In Europe, 12 teams will compete, with four qualifying via the UEFA Champions League which includes Chelsea (England), Real Madrid (Spain), and Manchester City (England). The remaining eight teams—Bayern Munich (Germany), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Inter Milan (Italy), Porto (Portugal), Benfica (Portugal), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Juventus (Italy), and Atletico Madrid (Spain)—entered through the UEFA ranking pathway.

From North and Central America and the Caribbean, four teams have qualified, all through the Concacaf Champions Cup which includes the Mexican trio of Monterrey, Club León, and Pachuca as well as American side Seattle Sounders. Interestingly, Oceania is represented by one team, Auckland City (New Zealand), which earned its place through the OFC ranking pathway.

South America sends six teams to the tournament. Brazilian trio of Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Fluminense have made the cut via CONMEBOL Libertadores victories. Meanwhile, the Argentina duo of River Plate and Boca Juniors secured their spots via the CONMEBOL ranking pathway. Finally, Inter Miami (USA) will participate as the host nation’s representative.