The 2025 Club World Cup, which is celebrated in the United States, has unleashed a fierce controversy after the 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and the Hilal on June 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Javier Tebas, president of the League, has launched an unprecedented attack on the tournament, qualifying it as an unnecessary show and stating that “only the fools see that tournament.” His words, pronounced in a forum with journalists in Madrid on June 19, have caused an immediate and furious response of Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, who defends his star project as a “historical milestone” for global football. This clash between two of the most influential figures in world football puts the future of the competition in check.
Real Madrid’s debut in the tournament, under the direction of Xabi Alonso, left a bitter taste. Without Kylian Mbappé, still weakened by a viral process, the white team showed lack of cohesion and was saved from defeat thanks to a goal by Gonzalo García Vázquez. Federico Valverde, captain in the absence of the injured, failed a decisive penalty, and the improvised defense with Raúl Asencio and Dean Huijsen suffered before the speed of Al Hilal. For Thebes, this game was the drop that filled the glass. “What we saw yesterday was a friendly summer, without intensity or prestige. This tournament contributes nothing to football, only disorganizes calendars and exhausts the players,” he said. The Spanish leader, known for his opposition to FIFA initiatives, argued that the Club World Cup, with its expanded 32 team format, represents an unsustainable burden for European clubs, especially for Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, who have requested to delay the start of the 2025-26 League to give rest to their templates.
Thebes did not stop there. He questioned the economic viability of the tournament, stating that FIFA has not sold audiovisual rights or insured the promised sponsorships. “Infantino is spending billions in an event that nobody wants, removing resources to the federations that really need them,” he added. Their criticisms are aligned with FIFPRO concerns and European leagues, which in May 2024 sent a letter to FIFA demanding an international calendar reform to avoid the exhaustion of the players. Thebes, which already in October 2024 requested the cancellation of the tournament, redoubled its commitment: “My goal is for this club World Cup to be the last. There is no space for more competitions that only benefit a few.”
Infantino’s response was swift. In a statement issued from Miami on June 19, the president of FIFA described the words of Thebes as “irresponsible and derogatory.” “The Club World Cup is a global football celebration, which brings together the best clubs from all continents. Saying that only fools see it is an insult to the millions of fans who are vibrating with this tournament,” he said. Infantino defended the economic incentives, highlighting that the champion could pocket up to 125 million dollars and that each participant receives at least 30 million. He also stressed the impact of the tournament on the US market, a key prelude to the 2026 World Cup. “While some cling to the past, we build the future of football,” he said.
The confrontation between Thebes and Infantino transcends the sports. The relationship between the League and FIFA has been deteriorating years, especially since Thebes supported the creation of the European Super League, a project that Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, continues to defend. Real Madrid’s participation in the World Cup, despite the initial criticisms of Carlo Ancelotti in 2024, reflects the tensions between economic interests and sports principles. Although the club confirmed its presence, Pérez’s pressure on Alonso to improve the results suggests that the tournament is a strategic priority, at least for now.
The controversy arrives at a delicate time for European football, where saturated calendars and the demands of the players generate growing protests. The special transfers window from June 1 to 10, designed to reinforce templates, has been criticized for altering competitive equity, while the inclusion of equipment such as Inter Miami, without continental merits, reinforces the accusations of favoritism towards Lionel Messi. The next Real Madrid matches against Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg will be crucial to measure the impact of this crisis.
The Club World Cup, conceived as Infantino’s “Big Bang” is far from consolidating. While Thebes agitates European and Infantino rejection defends his globalist vision, fans wonder if the tournament will capture their interest or if, as Thebes says, it is destined to be a failed experiment. For now, world football attends an egos battle that could redefine its future.
