Messi needs to play 7 matches to join Inter Miami in the Club World Cup

The tough victory on penalties against Nashville in the Leagues Cup final helps Lionel Messi and Inter Miami enter the continent's most important tournament next year. In fact, this achievement was achieved by getting through the semi-final against the Philadelphia Union.

However, the biggest prize is only awarded after the final match. The reason is because as the champion of the tournament that brings together teams from the MLS (USA and Canada) and Mexico, Inter Miami will participate in the Concacaf Champions Cup (commonly known as the Concachampions) for the first time in its short history. short since round 1/8.

Therefore, Messi and his teammates must go through 7 matches to win the right to the Club World Cup: 2 matches in the 1/8 round, 2 matches in the quarterfinals, 2 matches in the semi-finals and 1 final.

Although in the 2022 tournament, Concachampions compete in a knockout format starting from the round of 16, but a few weeks ago, Concacaf (North Central American and Caribbean Football Confederation) announced a new change effective. force next year, when Messi makes his league debut. Accordingly, 32 teams will participate (27 and 5 places via knockout) instead of 16, thus forming the round of 16.

Twenty-two clubs (with the exception of Leagues Cup winners, MLS champions, Mexican champions, Concacaf Central American Cup winners and Concacaf Caribbean Cup winners straight into the round of 16) will compete in the qualifying round.

Concachamps 2024 begins in February with matches in the first round and ends in June with the final. The team that won this tournament qualified for the Club World Cup.

Currently, 10 places have been determined to Concachampions 2024: Inter Miami as the champion of the Leagues Cup and Pachuca - the champion of Mexico Apertura and with the highest score; Vancouver Whitecaps (Canadian Champion); Nashville and Philadelphia Union (Leagues Cup); Tigres, Toluca, Chivas, Rayados and America (by position in the Mexican rankings).

In 2023, the Concachampions champion Leon, from the Mexican league, allows them to attend the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia next December.