As an Adidas brand ambassador, the star power attached to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes extends far beyond the gridiron, as illustrated by the 29-year-old’s inclusion in the World Cup Kick-Off alongside soccer legend Lionel Messi, also sponsored by Adidas, on Tuesday.

The FIFA Club World Cup, founded in 2000, will begin in June. The competition features 32 teams from across the globe: 12 from Europe, six from South America, four from Asia, four from Africa, four from North America, Central America and the Caribbean, one from Oceania, and one from the host nation, which is the United States this year.

This will be the first year to feature the expanded 32-team format.

World Cup Kick-Off with @adidas pic.twitter.com/z5HZQlHgqP

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 1, 2025

This wasn’t the first time Mahomes and Messi’s paths crossed. The two briefly interacted at an Inter Miami club match last April. Messi was also at Super Bowl LIX , a matchup between Mahomes’ Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to include Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid and Salzburg from UEFA/Europe. From CONMEBOL/South America, Boca Juniors, Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras and River Plate will attend.

Leon, Monterey, Pachuca, and the Seattle Sounders from the CONCACAF will play. From the AFC, Al Ain, Al Hilal, Ulsan HD and the Urawa Red Diamonds will be in attendance. The CAF will contribute Al Ahly, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad. From the OFC, Auckland City is participating.

Lastly, as this year’s host nation, the USA will also have Messi’s Inter Miami in the competition.