The youngsters from La Masia will have a new stage to shine this year in Miami. FC Barcelona and seven other clubs, including Inter Miami and Atlético de Madrid, were invited by Leo Messi to his new grand project: the 'Messi Cup'.

'La Pulga' and his production company 525 Rosario presented on Tuesday the first edition of the youth tournament that will be played this year in Miami, from December 9 to 14 with a total of 18 matches. The Chase Stadium, home of Inter Miami, will be the main venue for the competition.

During the official presentation, the organization stated that the tournament seeks to "establish a new standard in youth football, merging competition, innovation, and community." In that regard, Leo wanted to include clubs whose youth academies are a global benchmark, and Barça could not miss the event.

This is how the first edition of the 'Messi Cup' will be played

In the 2025 edition, the tournament will feature 8 clubs divided into 2 groups. During the first four days, there will be a round-robin format. Afterwards, there will be a play-off to determine the finalists, and a match for third place.

Along with the matches, there will also be a summit at the Faena Forum in Miami with the participation of important figures from the football industry and sports in general. In addition, the exclusive restaurant Pao by Paul Qui will host the official tournament party on the closing day.

## Which clubs are participating in the 2025 Messi Cup?

The 8 clubs participating in the first edition of the Messi Cup are:

  1. Inter Miami
  2. FC Barcelona
  3. Atlético de Madrid
  4. Chelsea FC
  5. Manchester City
  6. Inter Milan
  7. River Plate (Argentina)
  8. Newell’s Old Boys (Argentina)

That is, there will be a total of two Spanish clubs, two English clubs, two Argentinian clubs, one Italian club, and the local American club. In the coming days, all the details about the official schedule and ticket prices will be revealed on the event's official website.

Dates and Venue for the First Edition of the 'Messi Cup'

  1. Opening ceremony: Tuesday, December 9, 09:00 h (15:00 CEST) at Chase Stadium in Miami.

  2. Inaugural match: Tuesday, December 9, 10:00 h (16:00 CEST) at Chase Stadium in Miami.

  3. Messi Cup Summit: Friday, December 12, 09:00 h (15:00 CEST) at the Faena Forum in Miami.

  4. Final match: Sunday, December 14, 15:30 h (21:30 CEST) at Chase Stadium in Miami.

  5. Closing ceremony: Sunday, December 14, 17:00 h (23:00 CEST) at Chase Stadium in Miami.