MIAMI — From the moment Inter Miami was launched five years ago, co-owners David Beckham and Jorge and Jose Mas were bullish on the desire to someday play against the world’s elite teams.

They finally will get that chance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a 32-team tournament featuring many of the most famous teams in the sport and being held in 12 venues across the United States.

Inter Miami, led by Argentine icon Lionel Messi, learned at Thursday’s draw that it will play the event’s opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on June 15 against Egyptian team Al Ahly, historically a power in African tournaments. Palmeiras of Brazil and Porto of Portugal are the other two teams in Group A with Miami.

“Playing against Messi is one of the biggest dreams for a lot of players,” said Yousef Ibrahim of Al Ahly’s management group. “If felt great to hear that we are playing against him and Inter Miami in the opening game. Al Ahly has a big history with the Club World Cup, and hopefully we’ll create more and get this one against Inter Miami. No problem at all playing in their stadium. We’re Al Ahly and we have big dreams.”

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said: “I’m a proud Miamian and we will show the world what we as a club and what Leo Messi has done, which is not just change the sport in America, but change the perception of American soccer around the world. The eyes of the world will be on that opening game against Al Ahly. Hundreds of millions of people will watch that game. It’s an amazing platform.”

Other opening games include Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atletico Madrid, Brazilian club Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders of MLS, Monterrey against Inter Milan; and Real Madrid in a high-profile match against Saudi club Al-Hilal, whose roster is loaded with big stars, including Brazil’s Neymar, unless he switches clubs by summertime. Word is Neymar is looking to leave, and Inter Miami is among the teams with whom he has been linked.

The tournament final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 13.

The Club World Cup draw was held Thursday afternoon at the Telemundo headquarters in Doral with a green carpet arrival for soccer dignitaries and local celebrities such as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, artist Romero Britto and Peruvian soccer legend Teofilo “Nene” Cubillas.

President-elect Donald Trump sent a video message in the moments before the draw, saying “soccer is going through the roof” in the United States. Trump also mentioned his friendship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying: “His name is Gianni. He’s the President, and I’m the President.”

Trump added that he hopes to attend some Club World Cup matches next summer. A few members of the Trump family were present at the draw, including daughter Ivanka and grandson Theo, who made the ceremonial first pick.

The 32 teams were divided into four pots and divided into eight groups of four. Here are the groups:

GROUP A

1. Palmeiras (Brazil) 2. Porto (Portugal) 3. Al Ahly (Egypt) 4. Inter Miami (U.S.)

GROUP B

1. PSG (France) 2. Atlético Madrid (Spain) 3. Botafogo (Brazil) 4. Seattle Sounders (U.S.)

GROUP C

1. Bayern Munich (Germany) 2. Auckland City (New Zealand) 3. Boca Juniors (Argentina) 4. Benfica (Portugal)

GROUP D

1. Flamengo (Brazil) 2. Espérance (Tunisia) 3. Chelsea (England) 4. León (Mexico)

GROUP E

1. River Plate (Argentina) 2. Urawa Reds (Japan) 3. Monterrey (Mexico) 4. Inter Milan (Italy)

GROUP F

1. Fluminense (Brazil) 2. Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 3. Ulsan (South Korea) 4. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

GROUP G

1. Manchester City (England) 2. Wydad (Morocco) 3. Al Ain (UAE) 4. Juventus (Italy)

GROUP H

1. Real Madrid (Spain) 2. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 3. Pachuca (Mexico) 4. RB Salzburg (Austria)

Here is everything you need to know about the Club World Cup ...

The Format:

Thirty-two teams drawn into eight groups of four, similar to the World Cup and UEFA Champions League. The group winners and runners-up advance to the knockout rounds with extra time and penalties determining who moves on if a game ends in a tie.

The Venues:

Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)

Met Life Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)

Lumen Field (Seattle): The Sounders will play all three of their home matches there.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)

TQL Stadium (Cincinnati)

Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles)

GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tenn.)

Camping World Stadium (Orlando)

Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando)

Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

Audi Field (Washington, D.C.).

How teams qualified:

Each confederation was awarded a set number of places based upon its strength. UEFA has 12 slots, CONMEBOL six. Four each for Concacaf, Asia and Africa, plus one for Oceania. There was also a spot reserved for the host country, which FIFA granted to Inter Miami as winner of the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record. It also didn’t hurt that Messi is a world legend and huge draw wherever he plays.

“It’s hard to imagine the overall appeal and massive popularity of stardom that Leo Messi has,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber, who attended the draw. “I mean, he’s Michael Jackson meeting Taylor Swift, and he’s playing in our league, playing in our Miami team, and about to play in a few years in a brand new stadium [Miami Freedom Park].”

Jorge Mas added: “I can guarantee you that Leo Messi and Inter Miami will fill stadiums, bring gate, we will bring tickets.”

Selection of Inter Miami as host team:

Inter Miami’s selection for the tournament was controversial as the team has not won an MLS Cup trophy, but Garber and Mas defended FIFA’s decision.

“I think it’s exciting and I’m glad that we have a showcase for Miami,” Garber said. “This is FIFA’s tournament, and they picked a host. They have the right to do that ... there was no rule that said the MLS Cup winner needs to be in the Club World Cup.

“I think it was smart. Seattle qualified through the confederation. And they wanted a host team. I’m excited about putting Miami up in a showcase around the world to kick off the Club World Cup in our country, in our stadiums as a launch to the World Cup and I couldn’t be more excited about it.”

Mas said: “No controversy. One of our goals going into 2024 was the qualify for the Club World Cup, especially on the heels of winning the Leagues Cup in 2023, Supporters’ Shield, record points. We fell short, I’d love to be playing for the MLS championship on Saturday, but we very much look forward to the Club World Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS season and Leagues Cup.”

Mas is particularly proud to have Inter Miami in the opening game of the Club World Cup.

“I’m super happy it’s happening in Miami, in South Florida,” Mas said. “Who would have told us five years ago, with no club, that we’d be here today at a draw with the best teams in the world. It’s a great honor and privilege to play in the first game. It’s a testament to our community, to the soccer culture here that many kept alive when it was not what it should have been. It’s my city. I was born here. I love my city. And we can show the world we’re a showcase for global soccer.”

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