Inter Miami will be one of the top seeds at the highly debated Club World Cup, despite outrage over their qualification. The Major League Soccer team is confirmed to compete in next summer’s 32-team tournament, marking the first edition of this revamped event by FIFA.
Owned by Manchester United legend David Beckham, Inter Miami secured their place in the tournament through a contentious route. They will not be entering as the MLS champions, having been eliminated by Atlanta United in the playoffs.
Inter-Miami to be better the top seeds
Inter Miami certainly distinguished themselves during the regular season, securing a historic total of 74 points in the Eastern Conference, which stands as an MLS record. While there have been some discussions about the rationale behind their inclusion in the Club World Cup, it’s evident that their performance merits attention.
According to The Times, Inter-Miami is expected to be named one of the top seeds in the upcoming draw. As one of the representative clubs from the host nation, Inter Miami will kick off the tournament, even though specifics about the seeding criteria are still pending.
Miami's coach uncertain of Messi's future in the club
Inter Miami has secured their place in the league, but there are uncertainties surrounding one of their standout players, Lionel Messi. Tata Martino, the head coach of the team, recently expressed that Messi’s time in the MLS might be approaching its conclusion.
Martino acknowledged that while there are considerations about the duration of Messi's stay, he refrained from speculating too much on how much time is left.
"I actually don't know how limited [Messi's time in this league] is," he said after the defeat to Atlanta. "There is a question of time passing, but I would not dare to say that it is so short." Martino said.
"If you look at the context in which this began, it seems to me that the progress of the club is important. The comparison of the last game of last season, back in October, with today's third game in the playoffs and this bitterness that we all have for not having progressed, is clear that the club's objectives have been modified and I think there is no reason for the club not to continue trying next year." he added.