Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer team takes on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the opening match of the tournament on June 15. The draw for the tournament was announced on Thursday. Brazil’s Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto are in Group A with Argentina’s World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team earned a FIFA berth after finishing top of the regular-season standings in MLS. Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Brazilian. Neymarwill face La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H.
Twelve European clubs will take part in the tournament, with Manchester City facing Juventus in Group G of a tournament that FIFA President Gianni Infantino said will “begin a new era in club football.”
Paris Saint-Germain are drawn into a tough group with Atlético Madrid, Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo of Brazil and the Seattle Sounders.
FIFA had to deal with some skepticism about 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 present at the draw.
Club officials and former players gathered for the draw on Thursday, with US President-elect Donald Trump sending his best wishes in a video message ahead of the ceremony, which took place during a 90-minute live broadcast from a television studio in Miami.
“The event will be incredible,” Trump said in a message in which he praised Infantino as a “winner.”
“We’ve known each other for a long time and I’m honored to have this relationship because football, as everyone knows, is doing great,” he added.
The United States, along with Mexico and Canada, will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Clubs support
Trump’s daughter Ivanka took part in the drawing, which was presented by the former Juventus and Italian national team striker. Alessandro Del Piero and features celebrities such as model Adriana Lima.
The tournament final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
FIFA has struggled to find sponsors and broadcasters for the new tournament, but on Wednesday announced a global deal with streaming company DAZN that 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 have lodged a joint complaint with the European Commission against FIFA over the inclusion of the tournament in the international match calendar.
Opponents of the new tournament say it further complicates an already busy schedule and increases the players’ workload.
But there was little support for the competition from the clubs and leagues that will be represented next year.
“We are very supportive of this tournament, we are very happy,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also chairman of the European Club Association.
Al-Khelaifi said the tournament was a better way for clubs to compete in the United States than pre-season friendly tours and would help PSG spread its brand.
Also providing support was Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer and Vice Chairman of the Association of World Leagues.
“It took a while for the tournament to generate the interest you see here today,” the American said.
“Good things come to those who put in the work, and FIFA puts in the work, and we’re going to get a lot of our stadiums involved.”
“There are 100 million fans who follow what we call league (club) football and they will be interested in seeing MLS teams and Mexican teams and teams from all over Europe, South America and the rest of the world, so I’m excited about it , really,” Garber added.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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