{"id":224815,"date":"2025-10-14T20:19:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T20:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/224815\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T20:19:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T20:19:07","slug":"lionel-messi-announces-youth-tournament-messi-cup-for-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/224815\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi announces youth tournament ‘Messi Cup’ for December"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lionel Messi<\/a> has announced the first edition of the Messi Cup, an international youth soccer tournament to be held in South Florida that will include Inter Miami<\/a> and Barcelona<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Messi, with his production company 525 Rosario, will host the tournament between Dec. 9-14.<\/p>\n

The competition will have 18 matches and be played by eight clubs: Inter Miami, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bManchester City<\/a>, River Plate<\/a>, Inter Milan<\/a>, Newell’s Old Boys<\/a>, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/a>, and Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Thrilled to finally share this with you. This December, Miami will host a very special youth football tournament featuring some of the top clubs from around the world,” Messi said in a post on Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n

Lionel Messi will host a youth tournament in December.\u00a0Megan Briggs\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

“The future of the game will be on full display, and it’s more than just matches — we’ve got an incredible few days planned with lots of other exciting activities. This is about the next generation. Hope you like it! This is the Messi Cup.”<\/p>\n

525 Rosario said the purpose of the tournament is to shape the future of the sport.<\/p>\n

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– Transfer rumors, news: Miami eye Messi, Su\u00e1rez, Neymar reunion<\/a><\/p>\n

“More than a tournament, it is a series of live events and a digitally-driven platform that fuses sport, culture, and innovation,” a statement from the company said.<\/p>\n

“Its mission is to generate long-term value for athletes developing their careers, for the communities that unite around a passion for sport, and for brands seeking authentic and lasting connections in the new era of football.<\/p>\n

The eight teams are set to be divided into two groups of four, which will then face each other in a round-robin style phase over the first three days of the competition. A playoff match will be hosted to determine final positions before the third-place match and final are subsequently played at Chase Stadium.<\/p>\n

“The Messi Cup is the meeting point between the football of today and the players of tomorrow,” CEO of 525 Rosario Tim Pastore said.<\/p>\n

“It’s an opportunity to celebrate talent, culture, and community, creating legacies and bonds that will endure beyond the field of play.”<\/p>\n