Fri Dec 06 00:52:34 UTC 2024: ## New 32-Team Club World Cup Unveiled, Featuring Messi’s Inter Miami and European Giants

**Miami, FL** – FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveiled a revamped Club World Cup, expanding the tournament to 32 teams and moving it to the United States for the summer of 2025. The tournament, which will run from June 15th to July 13th across 12 US venues, will feature a new trophy and a star-studded lineup.

Defending champions Manchester City will face Juventus in the group stage, while other notable matchups include Chelsea against Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain against Atletico Madrid. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will open the tournament against Al Ahly. The tournament will include 12 European clubs, the highest representation from any confederation, with their participation determined by Champions League performance over the past four seasons.

The expanded format has generated controversy, with legal action threatened by player unions and leagues over scheduling conflicts. The tournament begins just two weeks after the Champions League final and ends five weeks before the start of the Premier League season. FIFA maintains the dates allow sufficient rest for players.

The draw ceremony, lasting over 90 minutes and featuring a video message from incoming US President Donald Trump, saw teams divided into eight groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.

DAZN has secured exclusive broadcast rights for the 63-match tournament. The event marks a significant shift for the Club World Cup, moving from an annual seven-team competition to a quadrennial, 32-team spectacle. The controversial inclusion of Inter Miami, despite not winning the MLS Cup, as the host nation’s representative, further fueled debate surrounding the tournament’s format and scheduling.

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