Confusion, consternation as Inter Miami receive last-minute Club World Cup berth

With Infantino's announcement, Miami became the second (and final) American soccer team to be admitted to the 2025 Club World Cup.

The Club World Cup is FIFA's attempt at recreating World Cup magic on a club level. 32 teams from all over the world, including big names like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and River Plate, will face off in the States next June to determine the best club team in world soccer. The tournament happens once every four years, and competition for its 32 slots is fierce.

Before Infantino's announcement, North America's Club World Cup roster was full. The continent had four slots available to it and all four were given to winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, its biggest and most prestigious trophy (Monterrey, the Seattle Sounders, Léon and Pachuca received berths for winning in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024).

However, FIFA left one spot open to be allocated to a team from the host country, in this instance the United States. But how would that spot be awarded?

FIFA says that Miami's victory in the 2024 Supporters' Shield qualified it—but the truth is far more complicated, and puts FIFA's motives under a harsh spotlight.

Yes, Miami won the 2024 Supporters' Shield, and yes, winning that trophy was an official means of qualification for the Club World Cup. But FIFA didn't announce that the 2024 Supporters' Shield was a qualification method until after Miami had already won it. It also made no room for the MLS teams that won the Supporters' Shield in other years during the Club World Cup's four-year qualification window. FC Cincinnati, LAFC and the New England Revolution all achieved the same feat as Miami but received no recognition from FIFA for their efforts.

Some have wondered if the spot should have been awarded to the winner of the MLS Cup, but that won't be the case.

The reality is that none of the 29 clubs in MLS knew entering the season that claiming the Supporters' Shield would earn a Club World Cup berth, and that opens the door to a whole lot of questions and speculation.

FIFA's obfuscation regarding the Club World Cup qualification path appears to have been a clear ploy to get Lionel Messi into its tournament. While he and his Miami team are certainly world-class, they don't deserve special treatment from FIFA over their equally talented but less star-studded MLS peers.

News outlets reacted with frustration to Miami's Club World Cup inclusion. 

"The time for subtlety has passed," said Tim Spiers in The Athletic. "If it all feels far too convenient, well, that's because it is. Miami and Messi being involved in a worldwide tournament that is in aching need of being a financial success right out of the box makes sense for FIFA, but does it make sense to normal people?"

In a word, no. 

MLS fans are united in the belief that Miami attending the Club World Cup isn't bad in theory. If FIFA had offered Miami the spot out of goodwill, or been more transparent about its desire to see Messi in the tournament, few would have grumbled about Miami's inclusion. But FIFA's artless attempts to get Miami in "on merit" devalue MLS and punish its 28 other teams, many of whom had similar seasons to Miami's during the qualification period with no major reward.

"Since day one, we dreamed of Inter Miami being a global club," said club owner Jorge Mas, via insidefifa.com. "Our brand is now recognized all over the world."

He's not wrong, but FIFA's awkward handling of the Club World Cup has Miami recognized for the worst reason: as a recipient of a handout. It's a fabulous, growing team with plenty of merit, but FIFA stripped it of those qualities, and Mas seemed all too happy to let it. Miami—and MLS—deserve better.