The Messi Cup will return to Miami in October with a much larger edition: 16 clubs from nine countries and three continents will bring together some of the most prestigious youth academies in world football for eight days of competition.
The official profiles of Lionel Messi and the Messi Cup shared a promotional video on Instagram this Tuesday for the second edition of the tournament, which will take place from October 25 to November 1, 2026.
"This October, the stage gets bigger," announces the video, which presents a competition with 16 clubs, nine countries, three continents, eight days of football, and 48 matches.
The new edition doubles the number of participants from 2025 and continues its focus on sub-16 category footballers, bringing together young players from some of the most renowned academies in Europe and America in Florida.
The participating clubs will be FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, Atlético de Madrid, Inter Milan, River Plate, Newell's Old Boys, Inter Miami, Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Independiente del Valle, and UE Cornellà.
Together, they represent the United States, Argentina, Spain, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, and Ecuador.
"His prestige is known around the globe. Now, a new generation will leave its mark," states the presentation, which encapsulates the spirit of the tournament with the idea that for these young footballers, "greatness is still a story to be written."
According to reported by EFE, Messi emphasized the growth of the competition and celebrated the opportunity to once again bring together young talents from major institutions in international football.
"We are very happy to see how the tournament is growing," said the Argentine, who emphasized that the players will be able to compete, share experiences, and, especially, enjoy football.
The Inter Miami stadium will once again play a central role in the competition, although the detailed schedule of matches and other organizational aspects will be announced shortly.
The expansion is significant compared to the first Messi Cup, held from December 9 to 14, 2025: that edition brought together eight clubs and featured 18 matches, whereas this time the number of teams has doubled and the schedule has increased to 48 matches.
River Plate will arrive as the defending champion. The Argentine team won the first edition after defeating Atlético de Madrid 2-0 in the final held on December 14, 2025.
In addition to River, the participating teams included Inter Miami, Newell's Old Boys, FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Inter Milan. For this second edition, the lineup also features, among others, Boca Juniors, Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Independiente del Valle, and UE Cornellà.
The presence of Cornellà also has a direct connection to Messi.
In April, the Argentine acquired the Catalan club, known for its youth academy and currently part of Messi's projects related to the development of young football players.
The first edition was also held just a few days after Inter Miami won the MLS Cup for the first time, with Messi as the team's key figure.
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