Real Madrid is set to refuse to take part in the next FIFA Club World Cup according to Carlo Ancelotti.
Los Blancos have been crowned champions of the world a record eight times, moving past Barcelona as the tournament’s most successful side in 2018.
But despite qualifying for the revamped version of the competition in 2025, Real is to decline the opportunity to participate in the next iteration.
The 32-team Club World Cup is set to take place in June and July in the United States.
But many are worried about the toll extra games will take on players, with FIFPro, the player’s union, raising concerns.
There could be as many as seven extra games, meaning there could be a situation where Real play an astronomical 72 times next term.
However, even though they are the reigning European champions, Ancelotti is not interested in competing.
“FIFA can forget about that,” he told Il Giornale, as per Football Espana.
“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.”
12 sides from Europe are penciled in to take part, including the Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024.
Other teams ranked high by a points-based coefficient system will also be present, while federations like CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC will be represented.
Manchester City are the current holders, having beat Fluminense in the final in Saudi Arabia in December.
FIFA had plans for a 24-team format to be played in China in 2021 but it was nixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After announcing the drastic changes, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the tournament would be “the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football”.
SOURCE: (SPORTbible)
