Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti recently stated in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale that the Spanish giants will not be participating in the 2025 Club World Cup. This decision comes as the tournament is set to be expanded to include 32 teams, similar to the World Cup format, with matches scheduled in the United States in June and July 2025. Teams from Africa, Asia, America, Oceania, and Europe will be participating in the tournament.
Ancelotti explained that both players and clubs, including Real Madrid, will not be taking part in the competition. He mentioned that the amount offered by FIFA for participation did not align with the value of a single Real Madrid game, which he estimated at €20 million. Other clubs are expected to follow suit and reject the invitation to participate in the tournament.
As of now, 29 out of the 32 participating teams have already qualified for the competition, with only three spots remaining. The tournament has faced criticism from various leagues and players’ unions due to the increased number of games being played in the upcoming 2024-25 season. Teams like Real Madrid qualified through the “champions pathway” by winning their continent’s club competition, while others qualified through the “ranking pathway” based on previous performances in non-domestic competitions.
Another issue that needs to be addressed is the regulation of player contracts, as some contracts in European leagues end in June when the tournament is still ongoing. FIFA has not yet commented on how they plan to address this issue, but Ancelotti’s statements serve as a warning sign that needs to be closely monitored.