FIFA's expanded Club World Cup will take place in the USA next summer
Real Madrid celebrating their latest Champions League victory(Image credit: Getty Images)
UPDATE: Carlo Ancelotti has clarified Real Madrid's position on the Club World Cup, stating that his comments were, “not interpreted in the way I intended”, after appearing to state that Los Blancos would not be taking part in the competition.
Instead, it turns out that Real Madrid are set to be playing in the Club World Cup, having won the Champions League at Wembley last month.
“Nothing could be further from my interest than to reject the possibility of playing in a tournament that I consider could be a great opportunity to continue fighting for big titles with Real Madrid,” Ancelotti added.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti
“Players and clubs will not participate in that tournament,” the former Chelsea boss was quoted as saying Italian newspaper, Il Giornale. “A single Real Madrid match is worth €20 million and FIFA wants to give us that amount for the entire cup.
“Like us, other clubs will refuse the invitation.”
With Ancelotti seeking to make a correction, it now seems certain that the European champions will be playing in the United States next summer, in the spectacular new tournament set to welcome sides from all over the globe.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi could feature at the new Club World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)
The tournament is set to take place between June 13 and July 15 next summer and has been increased to 32 clubs, up significantly up from the seven sides that took part in the previous edition in December 2023.
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The new format will see 12 teams from UEFA, six from CONMEBOL, four from each of CONCACAF, CAD and the AFC, plus one from Oceania’s OFC and one from the host nation, the USA.
FIFA have come under fire for their plans from players’ union FIFPRO who cited burnout concerns.
For more than a decade Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor, with stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others. He is the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team.
