Club World Cup news: Meet the North American representatives

In the next installment of the Club World Cup introductory series we take a trip to North America for our American and Mexican competitors.

12 stadiums from 11 different US cities will host the tournament and see teams from six confederations competing.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Leasley breaks down the qualified North American outfits competing and outlines the surprises that could occur via the MLS or Liga MX sides.

CONCACAF - Inter Miami (USA)

Qualifying under the title of ‘host’ representative is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami side.

Inter Miami were granted their place in the CWC following their MLS Supporters’ Shield triumph, awarded to the overall MLS league leaders at the end of the regular campaign.

Criticism has been placed on Inter Miami’s place in the competition with the club failing to win the MLS playoffs and accusations being made of Infantino shoehorning Lionel Messi into the competition.

Regardless of this opposition, the club will be competing and possess a strong form of footballing nostalgia with the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba being marshalled by Javier Mascherano.

Group A is arguably the most open of any in the competition and Inter Miami sit at EVS to qualify just behind Palmeiras and Porto.

CONCACAF - Los Angeles FC (USA)

Following the expulsion of Club Leon from the competition due to ownership conflicts, LAFC defeated Club America 2-1 to claim the final available spot in the tournament.

Goals from Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz secured the victory for the side alongside a guaranteed $9.55 million sum.

LAFC compete against recent Conference League winners Chelsea, Flamengo of Brazil and ES Tunis of Tunisia.

The most notable faces within the LAFC squad to the European audience are Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris who spent a large portion of their careers in North London.

The MLS outfit are 3/1 to qualify from the group and 6/1 to win it outright with the matchup between Flamengo and themselves proving a pivotal game for possible qualification.

CONCACAF - Monterrey (Mexico)

Monterrey qualified for the competition via their victory in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League where they defeated Club America 1-0.

This is the Mexican outfit's sixth appearance in the competition with their most successful campaigns being a third-placed finish in both 2012 and 2019.

On paper, Monterrey should be locked in a three-way fight for second place in Group E but following Inter Milan’s collapse at the end of the campaign there is a clear possibility for any team to qualify.

Former Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos will captain the Monterrey side against Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, River Plate of Argentina and the aforementioned Inter Milan.

Monterrey are third favourites in Group E to progress at odds of 3/1 to qualify.

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CONCACAF - Pachuca (Mexico)

Pachuca qualified for the CWC following their 2024 Champions League triumph, defeating Columbus Crew 3-0 in the final.

After being defeated by Real Madrid in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2024, Pachuca will be able to attempt to rectify that result as they have been drawn alongside the Spanish giants.

It will be a huge challenge for the Liga MX side to progress as alongside Real Madrid they will have to fend off Red Bull Salzburg and Al Hilal.

Their best result in the CWC itself was a third-place finish in 2017 following a narrow semi-final loss in extra time to Gremio of Brazil.

Pachuca sit at 7/2 to qualify from group H and a long shot of 25/1 to win the group overall.

CONCACAF - Seattle Sounders (USA)

The only MLS side to qualify via winning their continental competition is Seattle Sounders who were awarded a place in the CWC because of their 2022 Champions League triumph.

Seattle defeated UNAM of Mexico 5-2 on aggregate to take home the title and would lead to their only previous CWC appearance which saw them lose in the second round to Al Ahly.

The Sounders have international experience in their ranks through the likes of Slovakian Albert Rusnak and Cameroonian Nouhou Tolo.

Of all the CONCACAF outfits, Seattle arguably have the hardest group by far with the MLS club coming up against Atlético Madrid, recent UCL champions PSG, and Botafogo of Brazil.

This is reflected in the odds for the Sounders to progress with 7/2 for second-place qualification and 20/1 to be group winners.

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