Messi Cup Returns to Miami with Twice as Many Clubs as Its Debut

Sixteen academies from around the world, a full week of matches, and Lionel Messi's name behind the whole thing. The Messi Cup is coming back to Miami, Florida, from October 25 to November 1, and this second edition arrives with a detail that says it all about how much it has grown: the tournament has doubled its number of participating clubs compared to last year.

The first edition was played last December, also in Miami, and is organized by 525 Rosario, Messi's own production company. Eight clubs took part that time. Now there are 16, split into four groups of four, with a total of 48 matches. On its own website, the tournament describes itself as a "global youth soccer platform created together with Leo Messi," designed to bring together the best under-16 teams and players in the world for a week of competition, cultural exchange, and experiences for the kids.

The 16 clubs and the format

Returning from last year's edition are Inter Miami, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, River Plate, Inter Milan, Newell's Old Boys, and Atletico Madrid. Joining them are eight heavyweight newcomers: Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors, Independiente del Valle, Flamengo, and UE Cornella.

After the group stage, every team advances into one of two brackets. The top two finishers in each group move on to the Gold Cup, where quarterfinal winners continue toward the semifinals, the final, and the third-place match, while those eliminated at that stage play for fifth through seventh place. The third and fourth place finishers in each group, meanwhile, enter the Silver Cup: there, the quarterfinal winners play for ninth and eleventh place, and the teams eliminated compete for 13th and 15th place.

How the schedule plays out

The group stage kicks off Sunday, October 25 and runs through Tuesday, October 27, with packed matchdays featuring clashes like Barcelona against Palmeiras, River Plate versus Chelsea, and Manchester City against Boca Juniors, among many others. Wednesday, October 28 brings the quarterfinals of both cups, and Thursday, October 29 is a rest day for the teams.

On Friday, October 30, fifth through eighth place in the Gold Cup and 13th through 16th place in the Silver Cup will be decided. The semifinals of both divisions take place on Saturday, October 31, and everything wraps up on Sunday, November 1 with the Gold Cup and Silver Cup finals, along with the closing ceremony and awards presentation.

For those following the tournament from the United Kingdom and Europe, the Messi Cup will be available to watch on Disney+.