La Liga President Demands FIFA Scrap Expanded Club World Cup

La Liga president Javier Tebas has strongly criticized FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, calling for its complete elimination from the football calendar. Tebas argues that the month-long 32-team tournament disrupts player welfare, domestic leagues, and the existing football ecosystem, asserting there is no room for the competition without harming established schedules. After watching part of Chelsea's match, he dismissed the tournament as lacking intensity and comparable to a preseason friendly, emphasizing the low fan turnout, such as only 22,000 attendees in a 71,000-seat stadium. Tebas also criticized the tournament's focus on money flowing to the same clubs and players, warning that it prioritizes profit over the sport’s sustainability. The expanded Club World Cup, held in the United States with a $1 billion prize pool, has sparked controversy among players, unions like FIFPro, and league officials concerned about player health and calendar congestion. Despite Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid's participation, Tebas and the Spanish Footballers’ Association are discussing postponing La Liga's start to mitigate scheduling conflicts, while Premier League and Bundesliga clubs plan to begin their seasons on time.