Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti forced into embarrassing U-turn over FIFA Club World Cup comment

Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have clarified comments regarding next year's Club World Cup

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.

They are one of the teams who have qualified for the revamped version of the competition in 2025.

The 32-team Club World Cup is set to take place in June and July in the United States.

There could be as many as seven extra games, meaning there could be a situation where Real play an astronomical 72 times next term.

In an interview with Il Giornale, Ancelotti appeared to indicate that Real would reject the opportunity to be involved.

However, Ancelotti would later take to X, formerly known, as Twitter, to issue a statement where he said his comments were taken out of context.

He wrote: "In my interview with Il Giornale, my words about the FIFA Club World Cup were not interpreted in the way I intended. 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."

Real also explained that they will compete in the tournament as scheduled.

On their official club website, the La Liga and European champions wrote: "Real Madrid CF announces that at no time has its participation in the new Club World Cup to be organized by FIFA in the upcoming 2024/2025 season been questioned.

"Therefore, our club will compete, as planned, in this official competition that we face with pride and with the utmost enthusiasm to make our millions of fans around the world dream again with a new title."

12 sides from Europe are pencilled in to take part, including the Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024.

Image: Getty

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".

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