David Beckham rocked by Lionel Messi quit claims weeks after FIFA Club World Cup decision

Inter Miami is currently embroiled in a FIFA saga following their surprise inclusion in the upcoming Club World Cup, a decision which has sparked widespread controversy. This comes as the club grapples with the potential departure of football icon , following an unexpected play-off defeat at the hands of Atlanta United.

FIFA's confirmation that Inter Miami will participate in the Club World Cup earned by securing the Supporters' Shield for the best regular-season performance has not gone down well. This, despite MLS determining its ultimate champion through post-season playoffs, culminating in December's MLS Cup.

A tide of discontent surged from fans across other US soccer clubs, no clear guidelines having been established for Club World Cup qualification, leading to speculations of preferential treatment in favour of Inter Miami. The team, co-owned by ex-England skipper David Beckham and boasting the talents of multiple Ballon d'Or winner , is set to kick off the 2025 Club World Cup on home soil, albeit not as holders of the MLS Cup title.

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The club's future with remains uncertain, as coach Tata Martino reflects on the situation post-play-off loss. Speaking to Goal, Martino disclosed: "I actually don't know how limited [ time in this league] is. There is a question of time passing, but I would not dare to say that it is so short.

"If you look at the context in which this began, it seems to me that the progress of the club is important. The comparison of the last game of last season, back in October, with today's third game in the playoffs and this bitterness that we all have for not having progressed, is clear that the club's objectives have been modified and I think there is no reason for the club not to continue trying next year," reports .

"What happened this year, the bad and the good in general have been better than everything that happened last year and I would say even from the entire life of the club."

The MLS playoffs begin with a best-of-three series, followed by one-off knockout games in the later rounds. As Supporters' Shield winners, Inter Miami had the benefit of playing two of their matches at home, but weren't able to take advantage.

They won their first home encounter, with Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba netting the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory. The first game in Atlanta went the other way, though, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from former West Ham forward Xande Silva.

That meant it was winner-take all in Florida on Saturday, and the game was level 25 minutes from time as Matias Rojas and then Messi cancelled out a brace from Jamal Thiare. However, Inter were hit by a sucker-punch from Poland international Bartosz Slisz and couldn't find a third equaliser.

Messi, alongside Luis Suarez, was one of the two Inter Miami players to net 20 goals in the regular season. There were reports in September that the Argentine star has decided to return to his childhood club, Newell's Old Boys, after the end of the 2025 MLS season, giving him just one more shot at the MLS Cup.

In the current season's playoffs, Atlanta will have to overcome Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. Orlando had a nail-biting decider against Charlotte, with Facundo Torres equalising in the 12th minute of stoppage-time and then scoring in a penalty shoot-out victory.

The other match in the east is a New York derby between NYCFC and Red Bulls. In the Western Conference semi-finals, Los Angeles FC will face Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy will host Minnesota United.

LAFC were the only team taken to a third-match decider, with Mateusz Bogusz netting their winner against Vancouver Whitecaps.