This newly launched competition is scheduled for December at Chase Stadium, home of Inter Miami, and will feature eight youth squads. ..Continue Reading
Representing England are Chelsea and Manchester City, while Messi’s former teams—Inter Miami, Barcelona, and Newell’s Old Boys—are also set to participate.
Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and River Plate complete the lineup, though PSG, another of Messi’s previous clubs, is notably absent.
Each club will field an under-16 team, offering spectators a glimpse of emerging football talent.
Messi shared on Instagram: “Thrilled to finally share this with you. This December, Miami will host a very special youth football tournament featuring some of the top clubs from around the world.
“The future of the game will be on full display, and it’s more than just matches – we’ve got an incredible few days planned with lots of other exciting activities. This is about the next generation. Hope you like it!”
One of the most unexpected participants is Chelsea, especially considering Messi’s earlier remarks about the club.
Barcelona and Chelsea have clashed multiple times in high-stakes Champions League encounters.
In 2005, Chelsea triumphed over Barcelona with a 4-2 victory to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, while a 17-year-old Messi was not part of the lineup.
The following season, the teams faced off again, and Messi openly discussed the squad’s feelings toward Chelsea.
He said: “There are players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid. I never thought I would hear myself say that.
“I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil vs Argentina. But this is.
“We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United, or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.”
Messi later played a key role in Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, followed by a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou, securing their advancement.
The tournament format includes two groups of four teams, competing in a round robin over the first three days.
Group winners will move on to a play-off round to finalize the standings.
The concluding day will feature both the third-place match and the championship final at Chase Stadium.
Across six days—from December 9 to December 14—the event will showcase 18 matches, providing ample opportunity for young athletes to shine.
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