October 15, (THEWILL) — Lionel Messi has revealed plans for the inaugural Messi Cup, an under-16 international football tournament that will bring together eight leading clubs from across the world.
The competition, organised by Messi’s production company 525 Rosario, will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from December 9 to 14.
The eight clubs competing are Inter Miami, Barcelona, River Plate, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Newell’s Old Boys, and Manchester City.
All matches will be held at Inter Miami’s facilities, with the Florida Blue Training Centre hosting group-stage fixtures and Chase Stadium staging the final and third-place match on December 14.
The tournament consists of 18 games in total, beginning with two groups of four teams in a round-robin format, followed by playoff matches and knockout rounds.
According to Inter Miami, the event aims to merge sport, culture and innovation whilst creating long-term value for young athletes building their careers.
Messi stated the tournament would feature more than just matches, with additional activities planned throughout the six-day event.
He described the competition as an opportunity to celebrate the next generation of football talent.
Tickets for the Messi Cup are available through the official tournament website.
At present, digital broadcasting arrangements have not been confirmed, though organisers have indicated further details will be announced in due course.
The Argentina international, who currently plays for Inter Miami, announced the tournament on Instagram, describing December’s event as a chance for Miami to host some of the world’s top youth football clubs.
Chase Stadium previously hosted Argentina during the October international break.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
