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\n (L-R) Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas, U.S. President Donald Trump and Inter Miami’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi arrive for an event honoring the winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, in the East Room of the White House, Washington, U.S., March 5, 2026. (AFP Photo) <\/p>\n
\u201cYou could have gone anywhere in the world. You could have chosen any team in the world, and you chose to go to Miami. I don\u2019t blame you. The weather\u2019s extremely good. Do you go to Doral? You go to Doral and play golf?\u201d Trump said, referring to a golf course he owns. \u201cI just want to thank you for bringing us all on this ride, because you are hot and talented and a great person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the other Inter Miami players in attendance were Luis Suarez, Tadeo Allende and Rodrigo De Paul.<\/p>\n
MLS Commissioner Don Garber sat next to Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House\u2019s World Cup task force. Also attending were retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez and members of Trump\u2019s Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami was the first MLS team invited to the White House during Trump\u2019s two terms in office.<\/p>\n
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner<\/a>, led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022<\/a>. The 38-year-old is expected to play again for Argentina this year when the tournament is hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n Football\u2019s global showcase has been clouded by recent events, including the war with Iran and turmoil in Mexico following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera in a military operation.<\/p>\n Iran is part of the 48-team World Cup field and is set to play two games at SoFi Stadium in Southern California and another in Seattle during the group stage.<\/p>\n Trump opened the ceremony with comments about the conflict with Iran but did not mention the World Cup.<\/p>\n Following military action by the U.S. and Israel last week, Iran\u2019s top football official, Mehdi Taj, said the country could not look to playing in the World Cup with \u201chope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t care\u201d if Iran participates, Trump told Politico this week. \u201cI think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They\u2019re running on fumes.\u201d<\/p>\n It is unclear what would happen if Iran withdrew from the World Cup. No team that has qualified for the tournament has withdrawn in the past 75 years.<\/p>\n The World Cup kicks off June 11 when Mexico plays South Africa in Mexico City.<\/p>\n