Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino expressed optimism about his team’s prospects for the 2025 Club World Cup, despite FIFA’s delay in announcing the additional MLS participant.
The tournament, expanding to 32 teams, will be held in the United States, with four Concacaf slots already allocated.
“We have the football fundamentals to earn a spot,” Martino emphasized.
“Our focus remains on developing a strong team capable of competing at the highest level.”
The 2025 Club World Cup will feature:
– Monterrey (2021 Concacaf Champions League winners)
– Seattle Sounders (2022 Concacaf Champions League winners)
– León (2023 Concacaf Champions League winners)
– Pachuca (2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners)
As host nation, the United States secured an extra berth, prompting FIFA to select another MLS team.
Martino was referring to the Supporters’ Shield, which Inter Miami clinched on Oct. 2 after defeating Columbus Crew, 3-2.
The Herons clinched the title with 68 points in 32 games, winning their first piece of MLS silverware since debuting in 2020 as an expansion franchise.
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The Supporters’ Shield stands as one of two major trophies in MLS, won by the team with the best overall record in the regular season to reward consistency through a 34-game campaign.
FIFA, however, can also choose to award the additional Club World Cup to the undetermined winner of the 2024 MLS Cup.
The team will now turn their attention to the match against Toronto FC on Saturday, their third match in the span of one week.
Martino hinted at the possibility of resting Lionel Messi and other players that have played an integral role in the past two games against Charlotte FC and Columbus Crew.
“Well, let’s see, both for him and for the rest of the players who have been playing and above all who have two very tough games behind them like those in Charlotte and Columbus,” Martino said.
“We will just take that into account, the accumulation of minutes. Although in Leo’s case we understand that accumulating minutes is putting him back into football rhythm and that is clearly happening.
“But it is also not a question of accumulating fatigue. We still have a training session in the afternoon and there we will define the players who are going to start the game.
I have not yet defined the team.”
Inter Miami need two more wins to break the MLS single-season points record, currently held by New England Revolution with 73 points.
