Miami welcomed a glittering addition to its golden shores as it played host to the mesmerising FIFA Club World Cup™ trophy during the penultimate stop of its global journey.
With just days to go until the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ begins on 14 June, the trophy this week arrived in the Floridian city where it will all kick off. The tournament’s first game sees Inter Miami CF take on Egypt’s Al Ahly FC at Hard Rock Stadium, and local sports fans cannot wait for the action to start.
The Herons became the 31st team to welcome the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Trophy Tour since it embarked on its odyssey from New York in January. Since then, club football’s biggest prize has visited qualifying clubs from 19 nations before returning to the USA in time for the tournament.
The home of Messi
After visiting Seattle in the Pacific Northwest earlier in the week, the tour travelled across the host nation to the Sunshine State and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast.
It is not just the famous sandy beaches that glitter in Miami – this is a city of football stardust. Inter Miami is, of course, home to football icon Lionel Messi, the Argentinian maestro who helped his nation to FIFA World Cup™ glory at Qatar 2022. Another footballing superstar, David Beckham, is Inter Miami’s co-owner.
The trophy tour stop in Miami began with a visit to the club’s training facility, where Messi and his teammates are preparing to make their mark on the FIFA Club World Cup. The trophy was unveiled by first-team players Noah Allen and Ian Fray, both of whom will hope to help the Herons progress through the tournament. A sense of anticipation was clear as exciting young talents Allen and Fray posed with the trophy alongside enthusiastic members of the club’s junior academy teams.
Defender Fray said: “Seeing this trophy, it’s like a dream coming true. I’ve gone through a lot of things in my short career so far and to be able to play at this next level is amazing.”
The trophy then made its way to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, where social media stars seized the moment to get up close to the golden trophy. Football influencers Céline Dept and Iran Ferreira – each boasting millions of followers – brought their signature flair and creativity, capturing vibrant photos and videos with the prize at the 21,000-capacity venue.
Mesmerising in Miami Beach
With Miami about to welcome fans from across the planet for the FIFA Club World Cup, the tour took in some of the iconic locations that visitors will be able to experience. Among these was Miami Beach – an area famous for its stunning shoreline, luxury stores, trendy restaurants and dynamic cultural scene.
Soon, the talk of the town will be soccer, with six group games scheduled for Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. While Inter Miami begin their Group A programme in their hometown against Al Ahly, their next stop will be in Atlanta as they take on Portuguese giants FC Porto on 19 June. The Herons then return to Hard Rock Stadium for their crunch third group game against Brazil’s SE Palmeiras on 23 June.
Inter Miami player Allen added: “This is a growing sport in America, and the fans are going to be seeing teams from all around the world. It is great for the club and the city as a whole.”
With FIFA Club World Cup fixtures also being played in Orlando, Florida is set for a football frenzy over the course of the next few weeks.
Time is running out to secure your tickets to see history in the making in the USA. Visit FIFA.com/tickets to secure your seats for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™
