By Milcah Tanimu
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has announced that the club will not participate in the upcoming FIFA World Club Cup, citing the competition’s inadequate prize money as the primary reason.
In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale, Ancelotti stated unequivocally, “Real Madrid will NOT go to the FIFA World Club Cup; we will reject the invitation like other clubs.”
Ancelotti elaborated on the financial aspect, emphasizing the stark contrast between the tournament’s prize money and the revenue from a single Real Madrid match. “A single Real Madrid match generates €20 million, yet they offer the same amount for the entire competition. It’s unacceptable. No way. Negative,” he told Il Giornale.
The FIFA World Club Cup features a straight knockout format over two weeks, beginning with the champions of Oceania playing against the host nation’s champions in a play-off. The winners join the champions from Asia, Africa, and North America in the quarter-finals, while the European and South American champions enter at the semi-final stage.
Real Madrid holds the record for the most titles, having won five times. Spanish clubs are the most successful in the tournament’s history with eight titles, followed by English clubs with four. Manchester City is the current champion, having defeated Fluminense 4-0 in the 2023 final.
The next FIFA World Club Cup is scheduled for 2025.