Real Madrid and manager Carlo Ancelotti have clarified that the Champions League winners will indeed compete in next year’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup, despite the Italian’s earlier comments suggesting otherwise.
The confusion arose when Ancelotti was quoted in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale, stating, “FIFA can forget it, footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament.” He went on to claim that the prize money offered by FIFA was insufficient, prompting Real Madrid and other clubs to “refuse the invitation.”
However, Ancelotti swiftly took to social media to clarify his stance, stating that his words were “not interpreted in the way I intended.” The 65-year-old manager emphasized his desire to compete in the tournament, describing it as “a great opportunity to continue fighting for big titles with Real Madrid.”
In a statement, the La Liga champions reaffirmed their commitment to the revamped Club World Cup, set to take place in the USA between June 15 and July 13, 2025. The statement read, “Real Madrid would like to announce that at no time has there been any question regarding our participation in the new Club World Cup to be organised by FIFA in the coming 2024/2025 season.”
The club expressed its excitement and pride in being involved in the 32-team FIFA tournament, stating, “We will once again inspire our millions of fans all over the world with another trophy.”
The European Club Association (ECA) had previously distanced itself from Ancelotti’s remarks, underscoring the potential rift between clubs and FIFA over the tournament’s format and compensation.
FIFA has faced criticism from various stakeholders, including the World Leagues Association (WLA) and the global players’ union FIFPro, who have called for the tournament to be rescheduled amid concerns over the already congested football calendar.
Despite the controversies, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains adamant about the tournament’s significance, stating that the matches organized by FIFA are crucial for financing football globally, even if they account for only a small percentage of top clubs’ matches.
As the debate continues, Real Madrid’s reaffirmation of their participation in the revamped Club World Cup suggests that the tournament will likely proceed as planned, albeit with potential resistance from some quarters over its timing and format.
