Messi's Inter Miami set sigths on Club World Cup qualification

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino of Argentina asked "who wouldn't like to participate in a club World Cup?" when referring to the uncertainty over which MLS team will complete the group of representatives in the new tournament that will debut in 2025.

"We have the goals for this year, what's ahead of us, but the other part and how we qualify will be determined by those whose turn it is to decide," Martino said at the MLS pre-match press conference at Atlanta United's ground. "Obviously we would like to, who wouldn't like to participate in a club World Cup?"

The United States is already assured of Seattle Sounders' presence at the Club World Cup as the winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League. But as the host nation, the United States will be able to send one more team to the new tournament by invitation.

Speculation has been rife for months about what criteria will be used to choose the final US representative, with Leo Messi's Inter Miami, the 2023 Leagues Cup champions, in the spotlight.

FIFA is in charge of deciding who gets the place and it is possible that the last ticket will go to the local league champion, rather than the Leagues Cup winner, sources close to MLS told 'EFE'.

 

September 17, 2024