Carlo Ancelotti has cast fresh doubt on the controversial upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, set to begin in the summer of 2025. The expanded, new-look tournament has come under criticism due to fitness and burnout concerns. Ancelotti appeared to confirm that his Real Madrid side will turn down their invitation – and will not be the only major European club to do so.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has cast fresh doubt on the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, suggesting that Los Blancos will reject their invitation to the revamped tournament next summer.
The new version of the Club World Cup is due to take place in June and July 2025, with 32 teams from around the world competing. This includes Madrid as part of the best-ranked 12 European club sides.
Questions have been raised around player fitness with the ever-increasing intensity of the footballing calendar and its impact on players, but Ancelotti hinted the tournament was not worth Madrid’s time for financial reasons.
Speaking to II Giornale in his native Italy, Ancelotti said: “FIFA can forget about that. Footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament.
“A single Madrid match is worth €20 million and FIFA wants to give us that figure for the entire tournament: negative. Like us, several clubs will reject the invitation.”
The current format of the Club World Cup sees seven teams compete in a straight knockout that takes place over a two-week period. Both the European (UEFA Champions League) and South American (Copa Libertadores) sides enter the competition at the semi-final stage.
The new plans might mean an extra seven games for participating sides, and could take the possible number of games in Madrid’s 2024/25 season up to an extraordinary 72.
The opening game in the United States would take place just two weeks after the Champions League final, leaving limited recovery time.
FIFPro and the PFA (Player’s Football Association in England) have highlighted the tight schedule risks violating the minimum three-week off-season break stipulated in professional contracts.
Source: https://www.eurosport.com/football/club-world-cup/2023/fifa-club-world-cup-2025-carlo-ancelotti-suggests-real-madrid-will-reject-invitation-to-new-tournament-in-usa_sto20010056/story.shtml
