Carlo Ancelotti hints that Real Madrid may decline the invitation to participate in the new tournament in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, has expressed doubts about the club’s participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament, which is set to take place in June and July 2025, will feature 32 teams from around the world, including Madrid as one of the top 12 European clubs.

Ancelotti raised concerns about player fitness and the impact of the increasingly intense football calendar. He hinted that Madrid may reject the invitation to the tournament due to financial reasons.

In an interview with II Giornale in Italy, Ancelotti stated, “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.”

Currently, the Club World Cup follows a format where seven teams compete in a straight knockout over a two-week period. The European and South American sides enter the competition at the semi-final stage. However, the new plans for the tournament could mean an additional seven games for participating teams, potentially bringing Madrid’s total number of games in the 2024/25 season to an extraordinary 72.

One of the concerns raised is the limited recovery time for players, as the opening game in the United States would take place just two weeks after the Champions League final. This tight schedule risks violating the minimum three-week off-season break stipulated in professional contracts, as highlighted by FIFPro and the PFA (Player’s Football Association in England).

In conclusion, Ancelotti’s comments cast doubt on Real Madrid’s participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The concerns over player fitness and the impact on the club’s finances may lead to Madrid rejecting the invitation to the tournament. The potential increase in the number of games and the limited recovery time for players are additional factors that have been highlighted by football associations.