Miami, the newly crowned winners of the MLS Supporters’ Shield for the 2024 season, have secured their spot in the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup to be held from June 15 to July 13 across various venues in the United States.
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, congratulated the club on their remarkable achievement, stating, “Congratulations on an extraordinary MLS Supporters’ Shield victory. Your consistency and dominance on the field in the United States are truly commendable. You have proven yourselves as one of the finest clubs in the world, and I am thrilled to announce your participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as the host club representing the United States.”
The tournament format includes a host club from the United States, and FIFA’s decision to award the spot to the Supporters’ Shield winner recognizes Miami’s outstanding performance throughout the 34-game regular season.
Miami’s inclusion in the Club World Cup was confirmed as they broke the MLS regular-season points record, amassing an impressive 74 points. This achievement came after a thrilling 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution, surpassing the previous record of 73 points set by the Revolution in 2021.
The addition of football icon Lionel Messi to Miami’s roster midway through the 2024 season proved to be a pivotal moment. Although Messi’s midseason arrival couldn’t propel them to the playoffs, his impact was immediate and profound, guiding Miami to a Leagues Cup title.
However, Messi’s first full MLS season with Miami has been nothing short of spectacular. With his incredible goal-scoring form, the Argentine legend helped Miami secure the Supporters’ Shield and the top playoff seed with two regular-season matches to spare. Despite missing a significant portion of the season due to injuries and international commitments, Messi found the back of the net 20 times in just 19 appearances, including a breathtaking hat-trick within an 11-minute span in their recent victory.
The final slot in the Club World Cup will be granted to the winner of the CONMEBOL Libertadores final, taking place on November 30 in Buenos Aires.
The Seattle Sounders, the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners, will join Miami as the second MLS representative in the tournament, ensuring a strong presence of American clubs on the world stage.
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