LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that the 36-time La Liga champions will decline the invitation to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Club Cup.
The Italian cited dissatisfaction with the competition’s prize money.
Ancelotti was direct in his statement, declaring, “Real Madrid will not go to the FIFA World Club. We will reject the invitation like other clubs.”
The Italian tactician further elaborated on the club’s stance, highlighting the significant financial disparity between the tournament’s prize money and the revenue generated by a single Real Madrid match.
“Just one single Real Madrid match is worth €20 million, and they want to give us that money for the whole competition… no way. Negative,” Ancelotti told Il Giornale.
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The FIFA Club World Cup is an annual international club football competition organized by FIFA, the global governing body of the sport.
It showcases the champions from each of the six continental confederations (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, and OFC), in addition to the domestic league champions of the host nation.
The tournament adopts a straightforward knockout format spanning two weeks. It commences with a playoff between the champions from Oceania and the host nation’s champions.
The victor of this match progresses to the quarter-finals alongside the champions from Asia, Africa, and North America.
The champions from Europe and South America enter the competition at the semi-final stage.
Real Madrid boasts the record for the most titles, having secured victory five times. Spanish clubs have been particularly successful, clinching the trophy eight times, while English clubs have triumphed four times.
The reigning champions are Manchester City, who defeated Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 final.
The upcoming tournament is slated to take place in 2025.