Real Madrid REJECT invitation to play in FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup – and say likes of Chelsea and Man City will turn it down ‘ghost tournament’ too – in £17m payment row

Actual Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that the Spanish giants intend to say no an invite to play in subsequent 12 months's Membership World Cup.

The competitors is to be expanded to 32 groups and performed over 4 weeks within the US subsequent summer season after the conclusion of the 2024–25 season.

Madrid have been anticipated to be top-of-the-line golf equipment to take part within the event – ​​having gained it 5 instances within the final 9 years – however Ancelotti is adamant that his aspect won’t play within the event attributable to inadequate funding from FIFA, and believes different groups will do the identical.

Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis are additionally scheduled to participate, though their participation is now doubtful following the Italian participant's assertion.

“FIFA has forgotten that the golf equipment and the gamers won’t take part in that event,” Ancelotti mentioned in an interview with Il Giornale. relief,

'Actual Madrid's wage is 20 million euros (£17 million) per match they usually wish to pay us that cash for the entire competitors. Detrimental.

'Actual Madrid, like different golf equipment, will reject this invitation.'

Chelsea and Metropolis are England's representatives within the event, having gained the Champions League in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

They’re two of 12 European nations invited to the competitors, together with the winners of Europe's premier trophy in every of the previous 4 seasons. The remainder of the continent's slots are allotted based mostly on the membership's UEFA rating over the previous 4 years.

They are going to be joined by 4 groups from Asia and 4 from Africa, in addition to six from South America and 4 from North America. Oceania will get one spot, whereas the ultimate spot might be allotted to the MLS staff from the host nation.

The 32 groups might be divided into eight teams, with the highest two qualifying for the last-16 stage.

Sources near Actual Madrid informed right this moment The Spanish newspaper A.S.: 'Ancelotti is talking on behalf of the membership. The coach is true, in fact.

'This can be a ghost event.'

FIFA's resolution to increase the Membership World Cup has been criticised in latest weeks attributable to issues over participant welfare.

Premier League and La Liga chiefs have threatened to boycott the competitors, and accused FIFA of 'killing the sport' by including extra matches to an already busy soccer calendar.

PFA chief Maheta Molango even revealed that authorized motion may very well be taken in opposition to FIFA if it doesn’t again down on its plan to increase the Membership World Cup.

He informed The Solar: 'Those that run the sport must take heed to us. 'In the event that they don't, then as unions now we have a accountability to the gamers to take motion – and the subsequent step is the authorized route.

'The governing our bodies had each alternative to have a significant dialogue with us on this matter, however they’ve failed to take action. The present workload of the gamers is unmanageable.'

Manchester Metropolis CEO Ferran Soriano additionally believes transferring to a 32-team format is a part of a 'disaster' by way of the scheduling of matches, indicating the Premier League champions may additionally contemplate whether or not it’s of their finest pursuits to participate.

Nonetheless, PSG proprietor Nasser Al-Khelaifi has no intention of withdrawing his staff from the competitors, and has insisted the Membership World Cup might be 'larger than the World Cup'.