Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has announced that the Spanish powerhouse will decline the invitation to partake in the forthcoming FIFA World Club Cup due to their discontent with the prize money offered by the competition.
Speaking to Italian newspaper Il Giornale, Ancelotti did not mince words, stating, “Real Madrid will NOT go to the FIFA World Club, we will reject the invitation like other clubs.”
The Italian tactician further elucidated the club’s position, exposing the significant financial gap between the prize money offered in the tournament and the revenue generated by a single match involving Real Madrid.
“Just one single Real Madrid match is worth €20m, and they want to give us that money for the whole competition… no way. Negative,” Ancelotti told Il Giornale.
The FIFA Club World Cup is an annual international club football tournament organized by FIFA, the governing body of the sport worldwide. It brings together the champions from each of the six continental confederations (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, and OFC), as well as the domestic league champions of the host nation.
The competition follows a straight knockout format spanning two weeks. It begins with a playoff match between the champions from Oceania and the host nation’s champions. The victorious team progresses to the quarter-finals, where they are joined by the champions from Asia, Africa, and North America. The champions of Europe and South America enter the tournament at the semi-final stage.
Real Madrid holds the record for the most titles, having won the tournament five times. Spanish clubs have been particularly successful, securing a total of eight titles, while English clubs have won the tournament four times. The reigning champions are Manchester City, who claimed victory by defeating Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 final.
The next edition of the competition is scheduled to take place in 2025.