Which stars are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup in Cincinnati? Will fans see Messi?
Some of the world's best professional soccer clubs are coming to Cincinnati to compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, meaning some of the biggest soccer stars will be in town.
The international tournament, which kicks off this month, features 32 elite soccer clubs from around the world that will play 64 matches over 30 days. Cincinnati is among the 11 U.S. cities set to host tournament matches, with four group-stage games taking place at TQL Stadium from June 15 to 25.
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So, which stars will be in Cincinnati? Will fans spot Lionel Messi? Here are just some of the big-time names headed to TQL Stadium.
The FIFA Club World Cup is intricately engraved with phrases and symbols as FC Cincinnati hosted an announcement Friday, April 11, 2025, at TQL Stadium, which will host four games in the FIFA Club World Cup in June.
When are the FIFA Club World Cup games at TQL Stadium?
Cincinnati's TQL Stadium will host four Club World Cup matches from June 15-25.
Which FIFA Club teams will play at TQL Stadium?
The following teams will face off at TQL Stadium:
Sunday, June 15 : Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City FC, 12 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18 : CF Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 : Borussia Dortmund vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 12 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m.
Will Lionel Messi play at TQL Stadium?
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates a goal in the first period of extra time of a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match between Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
No. Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentina national team and Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, will not play in any FIFA Club World Cup matches set in Cincinnati.
However, it's possible that Messi will still come to the Queen City this summer, as Inter Miami is scheduled to take on FC Cincinnati in an MLS match at TQL Stadium. That match is set for July 16 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
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Messi, who is widely regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time, will play in the tournament with Inter Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Here are the top FIFA stars headed to Cincinnati in June
Although Messi will be absent from the matches in Cincinnati, the city will still see major soccer stars such as Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and Auckland City FC's Myer Bevan.
Here are some of the biggest names playing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at TQL Stadium.
Harry Kane, striker for Bayern Munich
Thomas Müller, center attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich forward Thomas Müller is among the star soccer players coming to Cincinnati for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in June.
Myer Bevan, forward for Auckland City FC
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 24: Myer Bevan of Auckland City FC during the match between Auckland City FC and Auckland United FC at Kiwitea Street on May 24, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by)
Emiliano Tade, forward for Auckland City FC
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 16: Emiliano Tade of Auckland celebrates on the final whistle during the ASB Premiership match between Auckland and Wellington at Kiwitea Street on March 16, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by)
Owen González, midfielder for CF Pachuca
Gustavo Cabral, defender for CF Pachuca
CF Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral, center, is among the star soccer players coming to Cincinnati for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in June.
Nene Dorgeles, foward for FC Salzburg
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 22: Dorgeles Nene of FC Salzburg gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Salzburg at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 22, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by)
Oscar Gloukh, midfielder for FC Salzburg
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - OCTOBER 01: Oscar Gloukh of FC Salzburg runs with the ball under pressure from Edimilson Fernandes of Stade Brestois 29 during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between FC Salzburg and Stade Brestois 29 at Stadion Salzburg on October 01, 2024 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by)
Serhou Guirassy, forward for Borussia Dortmund
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 11: Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena on May 11, 2025 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by)
Daniel Svensson, central midfielder or left-back for Borussia Dortmund
DORTMUND, GERMANY - MAY 17: Daniel Svensson of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park on May 17, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by)
Themba Zwane, attacking midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns
TOPSHOT - South Africa's forward #11 Themba Zwane celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group E football match between South Africa and Namibia at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on January 21, 2024. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Lucas Ribeiro Costa, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns' Brazilian forward #10 Lucas Ribeiro Costa fights for the ball with Ahly's Egyptian midfielder #24 Ahmed Reda Hashem during the second leg of the CAF Champions League football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns at at the Cairo International Stadium on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Jo Hyeonwoo, goalkeeper for Ulsan HD
ULSAN, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 12: Jo Hyeon-woo of Ulsan Hyundai celebrates the team's 2-1 aggregate victory following the 1-0 win in the AFC Champions League quarter final second leg match between Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on March 12, 2024 in Ulsan, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images)
Joo Min-kyu, forward for Ulsan HD
ULSAN, SOUTH KOREA - APRIL 17: Joo Min-kyu of Ulsan Hyundai controls the ball against Takumi Kamijima of Yokohama F.Marinos during the AFC Champions League semi final first leg match between Ulsan Hyundai and Yokohama F.Marinos at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on April 17, 2024 in Ulsan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FIFA Club Cup World in Cincinnati: Which stars are playing?
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