MIAMI: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup in the United States when the Major League Soccer side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday.

Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group ‘A’ alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS despite criticism from many in the football world.

Twelve European clubs will feature in the tournament, which will be held in 12 stadiums around the country and serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Can­ada, with Manchester City facing Juventus in Group ‘G’.

City won the most recent Club World Cup in 2023 under the old format and sit fourth in the Premier League after being hit hard by injuries to key players such as Spanish midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

City, who this year won an unprecedented fourth stra­ight English top-flight title, will face Wydad AC in their opening match and Al Ain before closing out the group stage against Juventus.

European champions Real Madrid will face Al-Hilal, Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg in Group ‘H’ while Bayern Munich were placed in Group ‘C’ along with Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica.

Three-times European champions Inter Milan landed in Group ‘E’ along with River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds and Monterrey while Paris St Germain, who this year won a third consecutive French top-flight title, are in Group ‘B’ with Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders.

Brazilian side Botafogo only secured the final spot in the tournament last week by winning their first Copa Libertadores title.

Chelsea will begin Group ‘D’ play against Leon before facing Flamengo and Esper­ance, while Group ‘F’ is made up of Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns.

“It’s about inclusivity, it’s about bringing clubs from all over the world, the 32 best clubs and best players from all over the world together,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

Some would argue it’s not the 32 “best” clubs. Miami’s selection was widely panned by critics, the volume of that only rising after the team that won the Supporters Shield as the best MLS team in the regular season — with a record-setting point total — lost in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

“There’s no controversy,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said.

Mas said Inter Miami getting the privilege of playing the opening match of the tournament at home is “a testament to our community, the football culture that’s here.”

“Who would have told us five years ago, with no club, that we’d be here today at a draw with the best teams in the world,” Mas said. “That’s what we aspire to. That’s what we dream of.”

Other opening matches incl­ude PSG v Atletico and Real facing Saudi club Al-Hilal — potentially a showdown pitting superstars Kylian Mbappe for Real Madrid and Neymar for Al-Hilal if the Brazilian great remains with that club.

“Anytime that you have certain things where football is big and you bring it to the US, it’s going to be a great atmosphere and entertaining,” said baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., part of the Sounders’ ownership group.

CLUBS SUPPORTIVE

FIFA has had to deal with some scepticism over the need for the tournament and the chances of it capturing the imagination of fans but there was plenty of support for the competition among those at the draw.

Club officials and former players gathered for Thursday’s draw and US President-elect Donald Trump sent his best wishes in a video message before the ceremony, which took place during a 90-minute live broadcast from a television studio in Miami.

“The event is going to be incredible,” said Trump in his message where he praised Infantino as a “winner”. “We’ve known each other a long time and I’m so honoured to have this kind of relationship because soccer is going through the roof as everyone knows,” he added.

Trump’s daughter Ivanka took part in the draw which was presented by former Juventus and Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero and featured celebrities such as model Adriana Lima.

The final of the tournament will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.

FIFA had struggled to find sponsors and broadcasters for the new tournament but on Wednesday announced a global deal with streaming company DAZN, who will show the games for free.

The world governing body has faced opposition from some in the game over the new tournament.

FIFpro and the European Leagues body filed a joint complaint to the European Commission against FIFA over the introduction of the tournament into the international match calendar.

Opponents of the new tournament have said it adds further congestion to an already crowded schedule and increases the workload of players.

But there was little but backing for the competition from the clubs and leagues who will be represented next year.

“We are very supportive of this tournament, We are excited,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also chairman of the European Clubs Association.

Al-Khelaifi said the tournament was a better way for clubs to perform in the USA than in pre-season friendly tours and would help PSG to spread their brand.

There was also support from Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer and vice-chair of the World Leagues Association.

“The tournament took time to generate all the interest that you are seeing here today,” said the American. “Good things come to those that sort of put in the work and FIFA put in the work and we’re going to have lots of our stadiums involved.

“There are 100 million fans who follow what we call league [club] football and they’re going to be interested to see MLS teams and Mexican teams and see teams from all Europe, South America and the rest of the world, so I’m excited about it, I really am,” added Garber.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2024