Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, has announced that the club will not participate in the forthcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The decision is based on the prize money offered, which the club finds insufficient.
In an interview with the Italian publication Il Giornale, Ancelotti was straightforward: “Real Madrid will NOT be attending the FIFA World Club. We will turn down the invitation as have other clubs.”
Ancelotti highlighted the financial gap between what the club earns from a single match and the entire tournament’s prize.
“A single match for Real Madrid brings in €20m, yet they propose to pay us the same for the entire tournament… that’s unacceptable. Negative,” he stated.
The FIFA Club World Cup, organized by FIFA, includes champions from the six continental confederations and the host nation’s league champions.
The competition spans two weeks and is a knockout format, starting with the Oceania champions playing the host nation’s champions.
The victors advance to the quarter-finals, joining the champions from Asia, Africa, and North America. The European and South American champions start in the semi-finals.
With five titles, Real Madrid is the most successful club in the tournament’s history. Spanish teams have won eight times, and English teams four.
Manchester City holds the current title, having won the 2023 final against Fluminense with a 4-0 scoreline.
The next tournament is set for 2025.
