Real Madrid to snub FIFA’s Club World Cup over prize money row

Real Madrid Manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has confirmed that the Spanish giants will refuse to participate in FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup due to a disagreement over compensation. The prestigious tournament is set to take place in the United States at the end of next season, with Europe’s top 12 clubs among those invited.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale on his 65th birthday, Ancelotti didn’t mince words about Real’s stance. “FIFA can forget it, footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament,” the veteran manager stated. “A single Real Madrid match is worth 20 million and FIFA wants to give us that amount for the whole cup. Negative. Like us, other clubs will refuse the invitation.”

The five-time UEFA Champions League winner, who guided Real to a European and domestic double last season, suggested the Club World Cup adds an excessive burden to an already congested calendar. “I see nothing particularly new, this has always been our job but the case of (Jurgen) Klopp is significant. The pressure continues, the burden of responsibility becomes too heavy, obsession takes over.”

However, Ancelotti maintains his passion for the game despite the mounting demands. “I keep my passion, that’s how I live the match, the game, my job; I’ve always carried this balance with me. I’ve overcome moments that weren’t always positive. After my experience with Everton, I was off the radar, they thought I was finished, I was old.”

In May, FIFA rejected calls to reschedule the 32-team Club World Cup despite threats of legal action from global players’ union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association over the saturation of the football calendar. With the expansion of all three European club competitions to 36 teams from 2024/2025, the new-look tournament faces an uphill battle for relevance.