La Liga President Javier Tebas has once again voiced strong opposition to FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup, pledging to take every possible step to prevent the tournament from continuing in the future. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Club World Cup is never held again, Tebas declared during a press conference on Tuesday.
Tebas has been a vocal critic of the revamped format since FIFA unveiled plans for a 32-team tournament held every four years, with each participating club earning a minimum of $15 million. Despite the financial incentives, he views the competition as a threat to domestic leagues and the overall integrity of national football calendars.
This year marks the first edition of the expanded tournament, with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid representing La Liga. Both clubs agreed to sacrifice their summer break to participate.
Tebas, however, remains undeterred. He said he intends to challenge FIFA through legal avenues and institutional pressure, arguing that the tournament disrupts the domestic football ecosystem.
While FIFA has received strong support from major clubs for the Club World Cup, tensions are mounting between global football’s governing body and domestic leagues like La Liga.
The current tournament has reached the quarter-final stage. After Borussia Dortmund edged out Monterrey in the final round-of-16 clash, the following matchups are set:
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Fluminense vs Al Hilal
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Palmeiras vs Chelsea
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Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
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Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
Whether Tebas’s resistance will spark broader pushback or lead to negotiations with FIFA remains to be seen.