Lionel Messi is set to return to the international stage when Inter Miami opens the revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on June 14 against Al Ahly. With less than a month to go, the Florida-based club has reportedly received a significant boost from Major League Soccer ahead of the tournament.
Concerns had been mounting around Inter Miami‘s 2025 squad, which has seen several high-profile departures since the 2024 season and struggled to adequately replace them in the transfer market. Now, with the team enduring a rough stretch under new head coach Javier Mascherano, MLS has stepped in with a timely solution.
According to GIVEMESPORT, MLS has granted Inter Miami permission to participate in a special transfer window from June 1 to June 10—just days before the Club World Cup kicks off. This move allows Messi’s team to pursue a last-minute marquee signing to bolster the squad for the high-profile tournament.
Back in October, FIFA approved the creation of an “exceptional registration window“ for participating clubs in the 2025 Club World Cup. Leagues around the world have since begun authorizing this short-term window to help teams address last-minute roster needs.
In the United States, U.S. Soccer approved the window for domestic use, but MLS limited access to teams involved in the Club World Cup. That means only Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders are eligible to make moves during this period. LAFC may join them—pending the outcome of their playoff matchup against Club America.
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Will Inter Miami make a move?
The offseason departures of key players such as Leonardo Campana, Diego Gomez, and Matias Rojas—as well as former head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino—sparked concern among fans. Though Mascherano got off to a promising start with an early unbeaten streak, recent results have fallen short of expectations.
When asked about potential signings, the Argentine boss set the record straight. “We’re always open. I’m one of those coaches who believes that until the transfer window closes, anything can happen, so we’re always keeping an eye out. We’ll see. The idea is that if someone comes in, it’s truly to strengthen us and make us better—not just to sign for the sake of signing,” said Mascherano in a press conference back in April.
Inter Miami recently acquired an international roster slot from the Portland Timbers in exchange for $270,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM)—a move reportedly intended to facilitate the potential signing of Kevin De Bruyne. However, talks surrounding the Belgian midfielder have since stalled, and transfer buzz around the club has cooled.
Still, with the new registration window in place, Inter Miami will now have one final opportunity to make a significant signing before the Club World Cup begins.
