Lionel Messi WILL play in revamped Club World Cup as Inter Miami to join Chelsea, Man City and Real Madrid

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will play at the 2025 Club World Cup in America, with official confirmation expected shortly.

The David Beckham-owned club have been selected to take part by FIFA, who can invite one team from the host nation to be part of the revamped tournament.

1

The Club World Cup - taking part in June and July next year across 12 venues in America - will feature 32 clubs from across the globe for the first time.

FIFA chose to expand the tournament from its previous seven-team format - bringing together the most successful club sides from each of the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA.

Most of the teams taking part have already been determined, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid among 12 European sides.

Concacaf are already being represented by four clubs - Monterrey, Seattle Sounders and León.

Read more on Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi can break incredible MLS record after inspiring Inter Miami to trophy

Cristiano Ronaldo admits defeat in race with Lionel Messi for prestigious record

FIFA reserved the right to choose the final Concacaf participant from the host nation, and have now awarded the ticket to the 2024 Supporters' Shield winner Inter Miami.

That raises the prospect of Messi coming up against Real Madrid - arch rival of his former club Barcelona - as well as his old boss Pep Guardiola.

In a golden era at Barcelona, Messi and Guardiola lifted three LaLiga titles and won the Champions League twice.

31 of the 32 teams taking part in the Club World Cup are now confirmed - with the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores to be added once that is decided in December.

Most read in Football

Alexander-Arnold confirms Liverpool exit ahead of Real Madrid transfer

Alexander-Arnold confirms Liverpool departure, Reds set to splash cash in summer

Al Hilal target two Premier League bosses and Jose Mourinho with short deadline set

Tottenham Hotspur in major blow as club fear key man is set for lengthy spell on sidelines

The revamped Club World Cup will follow the format of the World Cup at international level - with the 32 teams split into eight groups of four.

The top two teams per group will progress to the round of 16.

It will then be a single-match knockout stage from the round of 16 to the final.

The tournament will take place from 15 June to 13 July, 2025, meaning it falls between the 2024/25 and 2025/26 domestic and European season.

Messi last played in the Club World Cup in 2015 with Barcelona.

At 37, he has continued to make headlines since moving Stateside and scored twice as Miami beat Columbus Crew 3-2 to win the MLS Supporters' Shield for the first time earlier this month.

This cup is handed to the team who has the best regular season record.

It marked the 46th trophy of Messi's career and now means he has qualified for a tournament he last featured in a decade ago.

First, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will be hoping to win a first MLS Cup for Inter Miami.