Inter Miami veteran Luis Suarez has told players not to “make any excuses” about “a busy schedule or anything else” amid concerns about the demands being placed upon participants in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.
The MLS giants launch the competition at the Hard Rock Stadium against Egyptian side Al-Ahly on June 14 (20:00), coming in the middle of their regular season and weeks after a nine-month domestic campaign for clubs such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Chelsea.
“The soccer player has to be prepared to play one game after another every three days,” Suarez told Apple TV when he was asked about the competition after Miami’s 4-2 home win over Montreal in the MLS on Wednesday.
“We prepare for that. We are professionals and we shouldn’t make any excuses about too many games, a busy schedule or anything else. It’s our duty to work.”
Messi ➡️ Suárez = ⚽✨ pic.twitter.com/a7Cr7YKWzD
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 29, 2025
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Club World Cup schedule
Teams who make it to the final of the Club World Cup, which is being held in the US and has a total prize fund of £775 million, will end the tournament little more than a month before their league seasons restart, while PSG and Inter will contest the Champions League final two weeks before the action starts.
The worldwide representative body for footballers, Fifpro, joined parties including La Liga to file a complaint against Fifa to the European Commission in October 2024, alleging that its conflict of interest as a competition organizer and governing body – alongside a “lack of meaningful engagement with social partners” – infringes European Union competition law.
Fifpro data to April 2025 found that “many stars” heading for the Club World Cup were “among the most overworked” for the 2024/25 season, naming Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Federico Valverde and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez among the players to have made the most appearances.
In October 2024, Fifa boss Gianni Infantino said the organization “continues to work with player bodies to ensure player welfare remains a priority”.
Foden: Players ‘need right time to recover’
Speaking earlier this month following an injury-hit season, England and City midfielder Phil Foden said the Club World Cup is “going to be a funny one” and “some clubs will take it more seriously than others”.
“I believe everyone needs the right time to recover to go back [fit for] next season,” said Foden, adding that City will “definitely” take the Club World Cup “seriously”.
Foden was subsequently left out of two England fixtures taking place days before the Club World Cup, with the Three Lions visiting Andorra in Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifying on June 7 (17:00 BST) and hosting Senegal in Nottingham three days later (19:45).
“I just need a few weeks off, without playing football, and I can’t get it at the moment,” said Foden. “A lot of people don’t know what football players have to go through and play with.
“I’ve had a lot of ankle pain and have been playing with it in the last couple of months. Some people don’t see what we go through.”
Inter Miami vs Montreal: Messi, Suarez goals
Suarez and Lionel Messi scored twice each as Miami ended a four-match winless run with a home victory over Montreal in the MLS.
Uruguay all-time top scorer Suarez fired in from Messi’s cross in the 68th minute and pounced for his second three minutes later before the pair combined to allow the Argentina captain, who had opened the scoring from long range, to dink in a delightful finish three minutes from time.
“The most important thing was to win again,” said Suarez. “We were coming off a negative streak and we had to take responsibility for the poor results.”
Sixth-placed Miami have a tougher-looking assignment on Saturday, hosting a Columbus side two places above them (19:30 ET) in their final game before the Club World Cup
“It’s about correcting things, winning matches to gain confidence and returning to being the team we were,” said Suarez. “It was a good night to prepare for Saturday.”
Señores y señoras: @LuisSuarez9 ✌️🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/fjL3DAatkA
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 29, 2025
Why did Luis Suarez retire from international soccer?
Suarez retired from international soccer in September 2024, having made his Uruguay debut in 2007 and scored 69 goals in 142 matches.
“I am retiring because I want to step aside,” he said at the time. “There are a lot of talented players, and I know it would be difficult to get to the next World Cup.
“It is comforting to know I can retire on my terms and not have to retire due to injuries, or to not being called up. I want to say goodbye here, with my people. This is the ideal moment.”
Who is taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Chelsea, Club Leon
Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg
Why are Lionel Messi and Inter Miami playing in the FIFA Club World Cup?
A spot in the tournament is reserved for a club from the host nation, and FIFA awarded this place to Inter Miami based on their 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield victory, given to the team with the best regular-season record.
Inter Miami were eliminated in the MLS playoffs and are not the reigning league champions. Their invitation sparked debate, with some interpreting it as FIFA’s effort to ensure Lionel Messi’s participation in a tournament that has yet to generate widespread excitement.
