La Liga president Javier Tebas has reignited his criticism of FIFA’s newly-expanded Club World Cup, demanding that the tournament be eliminated entirely from the global football calendar. Speaking candidly at an event in Madrid, Tebas declared that it is his “objective” to ensure that the 32-team competition, currently underway in the United States, is brought to an end.
With major Spanish clubs like Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid participating, Tebas’ opposition highlights the growing tension between domestic leagues and global governing bodies over fixture congestion, financial priorities, and the very future of football’s structure.
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Tebas: “My Goal Is to Eliminate It”
During his appearance at ESADE Business School on Tuesday, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of La Liga’s centralized audiovisual rights model, Tebas left no doubt about his stance.
“My objective is that there will be no more Club World Cups, I’m very clear about that,” Tebas said firmly. “There is no room for it. There is no need for another competition that moves money towards the [same] clubs and players. The model affects the entire ecosystem of national leagues, especially in Europe, and there’s no more money in the world of audiovisual rights.”
Tebas criticized FIFA for disrupting the football calendar, insisting there are “no available dates” to accommodate a month-long event of this scale. Drawing comparisons with previous editions of the Club World Cup — traditionally played over a brief period with far fewer participants — Tebas argued that the new format serves no genuine purpose except to enrich an already privileged few.
“Absurd” Tournament Undermines Domestic Competitions
Tebas did not mince words when describing the tournament itself, calling it “completely absurd” after watching Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over LAFC. “I saw a bit of the Chelsea game and it looked like a preseason friendly. I didn’t see any intensity, at least for the 25 minutes I watched,” he remarked.
For Tebas, the expanded Club World Cup risks undermining the integrity of domestic leagues, pulling attention, revenue, and player energy away from competitions like La Liga. He warned that overloading the calendar with new events weakens the fabric of local football ecosystems.
Player Fatigue and Market Impact
It’s not just Tebas raising concerns about the tournament. Porto president André Villas-Boas also criticized the event’s timing, revealing that player recruitment has been hampered by the competition’s looming burden. “It was incredible to see that a lot of football players didn’t want to be in the competition,” Villas-Boas said. “They prefer to rest in order to start afresh in the new season.”
The FIFPRO players’ union has also weighed in on the debate, emphasizing the need for longer off-season breaks to protect athletes from injury and burnout. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also set for the United States, looming on the horizon, concerns about player welfare are only set to intensify.
La Liga’s Broader Battles: Piracy and the Super League
Tebas’ clash with FIFA comes against the backdrop of ongoing disputes closer to home. His long-running feud with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez — particularly regarding the European Super League project — continues to simmer.
“He is from a completely different industry model,” Tebas noted of Pérez. “He defends a Super League that would destroy the national leagues.” Tebas maintains that piracy and unauthorized competitions remain the two biggest threats facing Spanish football today.
While La Liga continues to explore growth avenues, including potentially hosting league matches abroad by 2025-26 to bolster its North American presence, Tebas insists that safeguarding existing structures must take precedence over chasing additional revenue through new international ventures like FIFA’s tournament.
FIFA’s Ambitions Clash With Domestic Realities
The expanded Club World Cup, launched with lofty ambitions of creating a new global spectacle, appears to be facing increasing skepticism, particularly from European stakeholders. With 32 teams involved, including Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, the tournament is designed to occur every four years — yet its future is already under significant scrutiny.
Tebas’ call for its termination reflects a wider frustration among national league administrators who fear the global governing body’s pursuit of profit could destabilize football’s delicate economic balance.
“We have to maintain the ecosystem we have already and eliminate it,” he concluded. “Keep [the Club World Cup] as it was before, when it was played basically over one weekend and that was that.”
As the debate intensifies, FIFA faces mounting pressure to justify the existence of its expanded competition while balancing the interests of federations, leagues, clubs, and — above all — the players themselves.
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FAQs
Why is La Liga Javier Tebas against the expanded Club World Cup?
He says it harms domestic leagues, overloads the calendar, and benefits only elite clubs.
How is the new format different?
It features 32 teams, lasts a month, and is held every four years.
What’s been the player reaction?
Many players rejected transfers to avoid the extra games and protect their rest periods.
Is this linked to other disputes in football?
Yes, Tebas is also battling the European Super League project promoted by Real Madrid.
What solution does Tebas offer?
He wants the Club World Cup to return to its old, shorter format played over a weekend.
