Could Real Madrid opt out of the Club World Cup?
The reigning Champions League champions, Real Madrid, have declared that they won't be joining the upcoming Club World Cup. This was announced by head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, in an interview with an Italian newspaper, "Il Giornale." However, he later retracted his statement, stating his comments were misconstrued.
The value of a Club World Cup without Real Madrid is a question FIFA might have to confront. If the Club World Cup makes its debut with 32 teams, the Spanish club is not currently planning to participate. Ancelotti shared thoughts on the issue in an interview, insinuating that the tournament to be held in the US doesn't hold much value for Real Madrid. "The FIFA doesn't seem to understand that players and clubs would not participate in this tournament. A single game for Real Madrid could be worth €20 million. The FIFA is offering us this amount for the entire tournament. That's negative."
Ancelotti also indicated that other teams might opt-out. Such a move could reverberate through the FIFA headquarters in Switzerland. Yet, things got confusing when Ancelotti published, "@x," claiming that his earlier comments were misinterpreted. "I don't even think about refusing to participate in a tournament that could be a great opportunity to keep struggling for titles with Real Madrid."
The possibility of how this communication glitch manifested is uncertain. It could be that Ancelotti intended to use his remarks to pressure the FIFA for a more substantial payout for participating teams. The football governing body hasn't revealed the prize money yet. The Spanish sports publication, "Mundo Deportivo," recently hinted at the purse amounting to €50 million per club, with the tournament winner receiving up to €100 million. This figure seems extraordinary, considering that Real Madrid received €85 million - an entire season's earnings. The inaugural Club World Cup is scheduled for June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Europe's Qualified Teams
The Club World Cup is set to become a fixture in the football calendar, scheduled to happen every four years. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have earned their spots through the UEFA's four-year rankings. The other qualifying European participants are Chelsea FC, Real Madrid, Manchester City, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, and Red Bull Salzburg.
- European teams (12/12): Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Salzburg
- South American teams (4/6): Palmeiras São Paulo, Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense Rio de Janeiro, River Plate
- North and Central American teams (4/5): Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, León, Pachuca
- Asian teams (4/4): al-Hilal Riyadh, Urawa Red Diamonds, al Ain Club, Ulsan Hyundai FC
- African teams (4/4): al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance Tunis, Sundowns
- Oceanian team (1/1): Auckland City
However, uncertainty remains about Real Madrid's decision, as their coach's comments seemed final.
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Despite Real Madrid's initial decision not to participate in the Club World Cup, head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his support for the tournament, suggesting it could be a valuable opportunity to compete for titles. However, he highlighted the financial disparity between the proposed payout and the potential earnings from a single game for the Spanish club.
The absence of Real Madrid could potentially impact the value and participation of other high-profile clubs in the Club World Championships, given the substantial financial incentives that some clubs might be seeking.
