Sport
Sport Lionel Messi, Inter Miami seal 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup place
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Lizzy Becherano
Sep 26, 2024, 02:33 PM ET
Inter Miami has officially qualified to the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup after ensuring its place among the top four clubs in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings.
The Herons currently boast the best record in the league with 64 points in 30 games, and need just eight points from the final four games to clinch the Shield. Miami could also secure the trophy with victories against Charlotte FC on Saturday and the Columbus Crew on Oct. 2.
Inter Miami participated in Concacaf’s continental competition for the first time in 2024, reaching the quarterfinals before falling 5-2 on aggregate to Liga MX giants CF Monterrey. The fractious confrontation between Miami and Monterrey resulted in an investigation and sanctions against the MLS team after a heated argument occurred in the hallway of Chase Stadium following the first leg of the series.
A source told ESPN at the time that Lionel Messi angrily approached the visitors’ locker room and began yelling after Miami’s 2-1 loss to Monterrey on April 3. Concacaf then fined the South Florida side for a “lack of security.”
From MLS, the Columbus Crew (Leagues Cup winner), LAFC (Leagues Cup runner up), Sporting Kansas City (U.S. Open Cup finalist), Vancouver Whitecaps (Canadian Championship winner) and the Colorado Rapids (Leagues Cup third place) have also qualified for the upcoming edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Four of the 10 slots allotted to MLS are still to be determined. The 2024 MLS Cup winner, Supporters’ Shield winner, next-best finisher in the Supporters’ Shield standings and non-Supporters’ Shield winning conference top seed will join the competition.
From Mexico, Liga MX’s Club America, Chivas de Guadalajara, CF Monterrey, Tigres UANL, Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM have already secured their spots in the tournament.
