Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that the Spanish giants intend to reject an invitation to play at next year’s Club World Cup
The competition is set to be expanded to 32 teams and will be played across four weeks in the US next summer following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Madrid were expected to be one of the standout clubs to take part – having won the tournament on five occasions in the last nine years – but Ancelotti is adamant that his team will not play due to FIFA not offering enough money, and believes other sides will follow suit.
Chelsea and Man City are also slated to take part, though their own participation will now be under the microscope following the Italian’s words.
‘FIFA forgets that the clubs and players will not participate in that tournament,’ Ancelotti said in an interview with Il Giornale, as quoted by Relevo.
‘A single Real Madrid match is worth €20million (£17m) and they want to give us that money for the entire competition. Negative.
‘Real Madrid, like other clubs, we will decline the invitation.’
Chelsea and City are England’s representatives in the tournament, having won the Champions League in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
TEAMS QUALIFIES FOR FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP SO FAR
EUROPEAN TEAMS (12 spaces):
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Man City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg
SOUTH AMERICAN TEAMS (six spaces):
Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminese, River Plater (Two spots TBC)
NORTH AMERICAN TEAMS (four spaces, plus host spot):
Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Leon, Pachuca (One spot TBC)
ASIAN TEAMS (four spaces):
Al-Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Ulsan HD
AFRICAN TEAMS (four spaces):
Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns
OCEANIAN TEAMS (one space):
Auckland City
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