FIFA has sparked a backlash in Major League Soccer after deciding to hand Inter Miami a place in the Club World Cup.
Gianni Infantino announced on Sunday that Miami had been chosen as one of the 32 sides which will compete in the tournament, which will be played in the United States from June 15 to July 13. David Beckham ’s franchise is taking the host nation spot, despite FIFA having previously failed to announce the selection criteria.
Miami has officially been included in the tournament for winning the Supporters’ Shield – a trophy awarded to the MLS side with the best regular season record. The team, which contains ex-Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, finished the regular season with 74 points to set a new MLS record.
Miami will now go into the MLS play-offs, which determines the league’s actual champions, but have already landed a lucrative gig for next summer. Not only has it qualified, Miami will also host the Club World Cup’s opening match.
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“Miami loves football, the world loves football and the world loves Miami. So I have three things to tell you,” Infantino said on the pitch at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale after Inter Miami thrashed New England Revolution on Sunday.
“The first: many congratulations for winning the Supporters’ Shield. And on top, with the record of points in Major League Soccer. Congratulations, you are the best team of the season in America. Second, based on this outstanding performance of this year you deserve to be, and you will be, for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
“And third, as the host team of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, you will have the honour of opening the tournament by hosting the opening game here in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium in front of 65,000 people and tens of millions at home.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino wanted Lionel Messi in the Club World Cup (
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Infantino was delighted to announce the decision to Inter Miami fans after their side were crowned MLS Eastern Conference champions. But it has not gone down well with the other MLS sides, who have accused FIFA of favouritism.
The Club World Cup has proven unattractive to broadcasters, who have declined to bid for the rights, and the addition of Messi is undoubtedly a boost on that front. Fans of other clubs have grown irritated by what they see as double standards around Beckham’s glitzy franchise and the other clubs.
One fan tweeted: “They just need Messi in the tournament. Can’t fault them for wanting that but the lack of process for this was pretty ridiculous”. Another added: “The criteria was always the same. Whichever team had Lionel Messi was gonna qualify”.
A third concluded: “Even if Miami had the worst season of their history, they would have still gotten the spot. The fact that there was no criteria to get the spot means that FIFA and the MLS intended to ask Miami to fill in the final spot, they just needed a good excuse.”
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