On Monday, renowned Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti announced that Real Madrid, the celebrated Spanish club that recently secured its 15th UEFA Champions League title, will not participate in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup next year.
The decision is primarily driven by concerns over the financial rewards offered by FIFA.
Unlike English clubs, which have complained about the demanding schedule of the expanded Club World Cup, Ancelotti’s objection centers on insufficient financial incentives. The 2025 tournament, set to take place in the United States with 32 teams, does not offer enough prize money to justify Real Madrid’s participation, according to Ancelotti.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper “Il Giornale” published on Monday, which coincided with his 65th birthday, Ancelotti stated, “FIFA should forget about Real Madrid’s participation. Players and clubs will not join this tournament. One match for Real Madrid is worth €20 million, and FIFA wants to give us this amount for the entire tournament. No.”
He added, “Like us, other clubs will reject this invitation to participate.”
Ancelotti’s stance, which seems personal and has not yet been officially confirmed by the club, contrasts with the recent position of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in England. The PFA has warned FIFA of potential strike actions as players are reaching a “breaking point” due to congested match schedules.
FIFA faces increasing pressure to address the issue of elite player fatigue caused by an overcrowded fixture list, with the threat of legal actions looming.
The PFA in England has called for measures to reduce the number of matches, particularly with the planned expansion of the Club World Cup to include 32 teams.
In a recent letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the World Leagues Forum and the International Players’ Union (FIFPro) urged a reevaluation of the new Club World Cup schedule, warning of potential legal measures.
According to the calendar, the Club World Cup is scheduled to run from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
The letter also mentioned that these scheduling changes have caused “economic damage” to domestic leagues and pushed players “beyond their limits.”
The associations stated, “If FIFA refuses to formally address the aforementioned issues in its next council meeting, we will advise our members on the options available to them, both individually and collectively, to proactively protect their interests.”
FIFA is accused of “continuing to make unilateral decisions that benefit its competitions and commercial interests, while negatively impacting national leagues and players.”
In response, FIFA insists it will ensure players’ welfare and safety through its “harmonized” calendar.
The football season will expand further next year, with each team in the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League set to play eight matches in the group stage, compared to six this season.
The number of participating clubs in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League will also rise to 36 each.