Real Madrid now want to take part in the 2025 Club World Cup after all. After coach Carlo Ancelotti clearly announced a boycott of the bloated tournament in the USA in an interview, the reigning Champions League winners released a brief statement on the matter on Monday afternoon and contradicted the Italian – also very clearly
“Real Madrid informs that its participation in the new Club World Cup organized by FIFA next season 2024/2025 has not been questioned at any time”, the communiqué reads. “Therefore, our club will participate as planned in this official competition, which we look forward to with pride and the greatest enthusiasm to make our millions of fans around the world dream of a new title once again. “
Ancelotti: “Nothing could be further from my mind “
Ancelotti had little sign of this euphoria. “FIFA forgets that players and clubs won’t be taking part,” the 65-year-old told the Italian daily Il Giornale on Monday. “A single Real Madrid game is worth 20 million euros, but they want to give us that much for the whole tournament. Other clubs will also turn down this invitation. “
Ancelotti himself has now also rowed back. “In my interview with Il Giornale, my words about the FIFA Club World Cup were not interpreted as I had intended. Nothing could be further from my mind than refusing the opportunity to take part in a tournament that I see as a great chance to continue fighting for major titles with Real Madrid,” he wrote on X.
How the boycott announcement came about remains unclear for the time being. Real, who are still sticking to their Super League plans and have long been at loggerheads with UEFA over this, do not appear to want to start a dispute with FIFA as well, however.
The Madrilenians will be among the figureheads of the revamped competition in 2025, in which 32 teams will take part for the first time and which is to be played in the mode of a men’s World Cup after the regular season. FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have qualified from the Bundesliga. All teams can look forward to substantial bonuses.
