Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to Kick Off FIFA Club World Cup

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami now have their roadmap for the 2024 FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13.

Inter Miami, controversially included as the host nation’s representative, will kick off the tournament against Egyptian club Al Ahly on June 15 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. They have been placed in Group A alongside Palmeiras and Porto.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the competition “a celebration of inclusivity,” bringing together top clubs and players worldwide.  The expanded Club World Cup will use 12 stadiums in 11 cities, with the final slated for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the same venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The draw, held Thursday in Miami, revealed several intriguing group-stage matchups, including a potential clash between Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Al-Hilal’s Neymar in Group H.

Below are the groups for the FIFA Club World Cup:

The 32 teams will compete in eight groups of four in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to a 16-team knockout stage.

Europe dominates the field with 12 clubs, followed by South America with six. Africa, Asia, and North America each have four representatives, with Inter Miami adding a fifth slot for North America as hosts. Oceania secured one spot through Auckland City.