La Liga president Javier Tebas has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to cancel the expanded FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for 2025, arguing that neither leagues nor players support the tournament, Soccernet.football reports.
Speaking at the Forum of the European Union of Clubs in Brussels, Tebas was direct in his appeal, urging Infantino to scrap the competition altogether.
“FIFA president, you know that you have not sold the audiovisual rights for the budget you said for that Club World Cup,” Tebas stated.
“You know that you do not have the sponsorships for that Club World Cup as you had budgeted. You know that the leagues and the players’ football unions we don’t want that Club World Cup. Withdraw that Club World Cup now.”
The expanded Club World Cup, set to feature 24 teams, will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
However, Tebas raised concerns over the financial viability of the event, suggesting that FIFA will be forced to dip into its own funds to cover the shortfall.
“If you are going to use FIFA funds to finance the money that is missing from the promise you have made to the clubs, you are taking it away from all those federations or places that FIFA says it is there to help. We are talking about more of €1.5 billion that will have to be drawn from that fund,” Tebas explained.
The congested football calendar has sparked concerns from players, coaches, and leagues, with many feeling the extended Club World Cup will exacerbate the issue.
Despite the criticism, Infantino has pressed on with the plans, recently announcing that Seattle’s Lumen Field will host six games during the tournament.
The Seattle Sounders, winners of the 2022 Concacaf Champions League, will play all three of their group matches at their home ground.
Seattle has also been named as one of the host cities for the 2026 men’s World Cup.