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Carlo Ancelotti says FIFA can “forget” about Real Madrid taking part in the Club World Cup, which is due to take place under a revised format from 2025.
The new competition, scheduled to take place from June 13 to July 15 next year, will feature 32 clubs from around the world. 29 places have already been filled, including Real Madrid, the Champions League winners in 2022 and 2024.
The Club World Cup has already come under criticism from the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) and the World Leagues Association, who have called for the tournament to be rescheduled due to the financial toll on leagues and the impact on player welfare, while bosses from the Premier League and La Liga have threatened to boycott the tournament.
“FIFA can forget about it,” Ancelotti said in an interview. The Giornale Cited by Relevo.
“Footballers and clubs will not take part in the tournament.
“Each Madrid match is worth 20 million euros, but FIFA wants to give us that figure for the whole tournament, a minus.
“Some clubs will reject the invitation, just like us.”
Real Madrid, who have won the tournament five times in the last nine years, are not alone in their concerns, although FIFA has repeatedly denied any problems.
The last Club World Cup was held in December 2023 and featured just seven teams. Manchester City took time off their Premier League campaign to tour Saudi Arabia and win the tournament, beating Fluminense in the final.
The new format will see 12 teams from UEFA, six from CONMEBOL, four each from CONCAF, CAF and AFC, one team from Oceania’s OFC and one team from the host nation.