Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup on June 15, facing Egypt’s Al Ahly in the tournament’s opening match, as revealed by the draw on Thursday.
Alongside Messi’s Miami team, who earned a spot in the tournament by finishing top of the MLS regular season, Group A also includes Brazil’s Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto.
Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Brazilian forward Neymar, will reunite with La Liga rivals Real Madrid in Group H, which also features the European champions.
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The tournament will feature 12 European clubs, with Manchester City set to face Juventus in Group G. Paris Saint-Germain finds themselves in a challenging group alongside Atletico Madrid, Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo from Brazil, and the Seattle Sounders.
The draw took place in Miami, where club officials and former players gathered. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sent his best wishes via a video message before the event, which was broadcast live for 90 minutes from a television studio.
The tournament final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
Despite some early challenges in securing sponsors and broadcasters, FIFA recently announced a global partnership with streaming company DAZN, who will stream the games for free.
However, FIFA’s new tournament has faced opposition, with FIFPro and the European Leagues body lodging a joint complaint with the European Commission. Critics argue that the addition of this new competition further congests an already packed international calendar, increasing the strain on players.
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