Real Madrid, the triumphant victors of the Champions League, have officially declared their intention to partake in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, despite earlier indications suggesting otherwise from their manager, Carlo Ancelotti. The tournament, which has undergone expansion and reconfiguration, has faced scrutiny due to concerns over player fitness and exhaustion. Initially, Ancelotti seemed to suggest that Real Madrid would decline the invitation.
However, in a recent statement, Real Madrid has affirmed their commitment to participate in the upcoming edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. The club’s announcement comes in response to prior speculations that they might reject FIFA’s invitation, sparked by comments attributed to Ancelotti in the Italian media. Ancelotti has since clarified that he was misquoted.
Real Madrid’s statement reads, “Real Madrid CF confirms its participation in the forthcoming 2024/2025 FIFA Club World Cup without any doubt. We eagerly anticipate competing in this prestigious tournament and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to once again captivate our millions of supporters worldwide with another triumph.”
Scheduled for June and July 2025, the new iteration of the Club World Cup will feature 32 teams from across the globe, including Real Madrid as one of the top 12 European clubs. Concerns have been raised regarding player fitness amidst the relentless demands of the football calendar.
Ancelotti was previously quoted by II Giornale in Italy allegedly expressing skepticism towards the tournament, stating, “FIFA can forget about that. Footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament. A single Madrid match is worth €20 million and FIFA wants to give us that figure for the entire tournament: negative. Like us, several clubs will reject the invitation.” However, Ancelotti has since clarified his stance, emphasizing his interest in competing for titles with Real Madrid.
The current Club World Cup format involves seven teams competing in a knockout stage over two weeks, with European and South American sides entering at the semi-final stage. The proposed changes could mean additional matches for participating teams, potentially extending Real Madrid’s 2024/25 season to an unprecedented 72 games.
Critics have highlighted the tight scheduling, with the opening game slated just two weeks after the Champions League final, leaving minimal recovery time. Organizations like FIFPro and the PFA have voiced concerns about the compressed schedule possibly violating the mandatory three-week off-season break stipulated in professional contracts.
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