Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will kick off this year's Club World Cup against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, while Kylian Mbappé and Neymar are set to clash as Real Madrid takes on Al-Hilal. Premier League titleholders Manchester City will face off against Juventus, Moroccan team Wydad AC, and UAE's Al Ain in the initial group stage of FIFA's contentious tournament. Meanwhile, Chelsea will go head-to-head with Brazil's Flamengo, Mexico's Club Leon, and Tunisia's Esperance.
The newly expanded 32-team competition, scheduled to take place in the United States next summer, has been a pet project of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, it faces two legal challenges in Europe, both involving the players' union FIFPRO. The draw for the competition was conducted in Miami on Thursday.
City and Chelsea, as the 2023 and 2021 Champions League winners respectively, were kept apart in the group stage draw due to FIFA's complex regional constraints. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will start their Group G campaign against Casablanca's Wydad, followed by matches against Al Ain and Italian giants Juventus. Chelsea, on the other hand, will begin in Group D against Club Leon, then face Flamengo and Esperance Tunis. If both English clubs advance as group winners, they will be placed on opposite sides of the draw, potentially meeting only in the final.
The tournament will run from June 15 to July 13, utilizing 12 stadiums across 11 different cities in the US. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same venue set to host the 2026 World Cup final. Inter Miami, representing the host nation, will play the inaugural match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino emphasized the tournament's goal of inclusivity, bringing together the 32 best clubs and players from around the world. However, Inter Miami's selection has drawn criticism, with many viewing it as a means to include Messi in the tournament. The criticism grew louder when Miami was eliminated in the first round of this season's MLS playoffs, despite finishing atop the regular-season standings.
Major League Soccer has two representatives in the tournament: Seattle and Inter Miami. The Sounders qualified as the 2022 Concacaf Champions League winners, while Inter Miami earned their spot as the host nation's representative. MLS commissioner Don Garber defended the decision, stating that there is no rule requiring the MLS Cup winner to participate. He expressed support for FIFA's choice and excitement about showcasing Miami and Seattle on a global stage.
Other notable matchups include Paris Saint-Germain versus Atlético Madrid and Brazilian club Botafogo playing in Group B against Seattle. Additionally, Real Madrid will face Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in Group H, featuring a star-studded clash with Mbappé for Real Madrid and Neymar for Al-Hilal.
The competition follows the traditional 32-team format used in the World Cup from 1998 to 2022. Eight groups of four teams each were drawn on Thursday, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Europe secured 12 spots, South America six, while Africa, Asia, and North America each received four. Inter Miami, as the host, essentially counts as a fifth North American team. Oceania was allocated one spot.
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Internazionale.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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