Messi’s new Club World Cup begins, Neymar faces Real

The draw for FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup was announced on Thursday. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play Egypt’s Al Ahly on June 15. Palmeiras and Porto complete Group A, along with Argentina World Cup winner Messi’s Miami squad, which FIFA selected after winning the MLS regular season.

Neymar, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, will play against La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H.

Manchester City will play Juventus in Group G of a tournament FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared would “start a new era in club football” with 12 European clubs. Atletico Madrid, Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo, and Seattle Sounders formed a challenging group for Paris Saint-Germain.

FIFA has faced skepticism about the tournament’s need and fans’ interest, but many at the draw supported it.

Before Thursday’s draw, US President-elect Donald Trump delivered a video message of his best wishes to club officials and former players. The ceremony was televised live from a Miami television studio for 90 minutes.

“The event is going to be incredible,” Trump remarked, calling Infantino a “winner”.

“We’ve known each other a long time and I’m so honoured to have this kind of relationship because soccer is going through the roof as everyone knows,” said.

The US, Mexico, and Canada will host the 2026 World Cup.

SUPPORTIVE CLUB

Ivanka Trump participated in the draw, which was hosted by former Juventus and Italy player Alessandro Del Piero and featured Adriana Lima. The tournament final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.

FIFA struck a global contract with DAZN on Wednesday to stream the new competition for free after struggling to secure sponsors and broadcasters. The world governing body’s new event has drawn criticism from players.

The European Leagues body and FIFpro complained to the European Commission about FIFA adding the tournament to the international fixture calendar Opponents of the new event say it adds to a packed schedule and increases player workload.

However, the clubs and leagues representing next year only supported the competition.

“We are very supportive of this tournament, We are excited,” stated PSG president and European Clubs Association head Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Al-Khelaifi said the event was a better approach for clubs to perform in the US than pre-season friendlies and would help PSG extend their brand.

Major League Soccer commissioner and World Leagues Association vice-chair Don Garber supported it.

“The tournament took time to generate all the interest that you are seeing here today,” he remarked.

“FIFA worked hard, and we’ll have many stadiums involved.

“There are 100 million fans who follow what we call league (club) soccer and they’re going to be interested to see MLS teams and Mexican teams and see teams from all Europe, South America and the rest of the world, so I’m excited about it, I really am,” he said.