Luis Suarez, the legendary Uruguayan striker, has ignited excitement surrounding Inter Miami’s participation in the highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025, set to take place across the United States this June and July.
In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Suarez shared his thoughts on the tournament’s challenges, Inter Miami’s ambitions, and the growing impact of football in the USA.
Inter Miami, who secured their spot by winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking 74 points, will face a formidable Group A, including Egypt’s Al Ahly, Portugal’s FC Porto, and Brazil’s SE Palmeiras. The opening match sees them take on Al Ahly on June 14th.
“Playing at the Club World Cup will be both special and challenging,” Suarez stated. “There’ll be no easy games in this new competition, which features a lot of very strong sides, and it’ll be really tough. We have to analyze our opponents inside out and look to perform to our best in the tournament, which has really caught the imagination.”
The 38-year-old striker, reunited with his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, emphasized the significance of Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders FC representing MLS on the global stage.
“It’s such an exciting prospect and one that’s generating high hopes. It’s pretty special to think that we and the Sounders will be the only two MLS representatives,” he said.
Suarez also expressed his enthusiasm for playing in the state-of-the-art stadiums across the United States.
“The infrastructure is amazing. The country is equipped to host any competition. It’s no coincidence that the Club World Cup is going to be held over here: the United States is more than prepared for it,” he noted, highlighting stadiums like MetLife Stadium in New York, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Lumen Field in Seattle, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The interview also touched on the impact of Lionel Messi’s arrival in the United States. Suarez pointed to the growth of Inter Miami’s youth academy as a testament to Messi’s influence.
“I’d point to the influence that he and other players have had in terms of the youth set-up at Inter Miami and how the academy has grown in recent times,” he explained. “The message that we’re putting out there is a special one and is part of the efforts to see football become at least the second biggest sport in the country.”
The Club World Cup 2025 will feature 32 teams from around the globe, marking a significant expansion of the tournament.
Inter Miami’s participation adds to the growing excitement surrounding football in the United States, especially with the country set to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Suarez also reflected on Uruguay’s role in hosting a match during the 2030 FIFA World Cup centenary celebrations. “It’s a reward for staging the first-ever World Cup, which was held in 1930. It’s special for us Uruguayans. It’ll be incredible – a historic event,” he said.
With Javier Mascherano taking over as manager following Gerardo Martino’s departure, Inter Miami is determined to make a strong impression in the Club World Cup. The tournament presents a unique opportunity for the club to showcase its talent and compete against the world’s best.
