FIFA Club World Cup pots confirmed with Lionel Messi & Inter Miami facing nightmare draw as bottom seeds

FIFA have confirmed the 32 teams competing in the revamped competition and which team is in which of the four pots. Major League Soccer side Miami are in pot four, meaning they could face the likes of Champions League holders Real Madrid, German giants Bayern Munich, and Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo in their group.

Pot 1: Manchester City (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Flamengo (BRA), Palmeiras (BRA), River Plate (ARG), Fluminense (BRA)

Pot 2: Chelsea (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Inter Milan (ITA), Porto (POR), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Juventus (ITA), FC Salzburg (AUT)

Pot 3: Al Hilal (KSA), Ulsan (KOR), Al Ahly (EGY), Wydad (MAR), CF Monterrey (MEX), Club Leon (MEX), Boca Juniors (ARG), Botafogo (BRA)

Pot 4: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Al Ain FC (UAE), Esperance Sportive de Tunisie (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), CF Pachuca (MEX), Seattle Sounders (USA), Auckland City (NZL), Inter Miami (USA)

Manchester City are the reigning champions of this competition, which was held back in December 2023, but only seven teams competed in that 10-day tournament. The 2025 version will take place next summer for four weeks and includes 32 sides. City star Rodri threatened that players may go on strike over the sheer number of matches they are playing and this enlarged competition will only add to those concerns.

Messi's Miami side will line up with the other teams for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States when the tournament begins on June 15. The final will be held on July 13, 2025. The draw for the group stage will be held on Thursday, December 5.