La Liga president Javier Tebas has strongly criticized FIFA’s plans for an expanded Club World Cup, urging the organization to abandon the tournament altogether. Speaking at the European Professional Football Forum in Brussels, Tebas argued that the new 32-team format set to debut next summer lacks support from key stakeholders in the sport.
Tebas claimed that FIFA has failed to secure broadcast rights or sponsorship deals for the expanded tournament. He emphasized that neither players, clubs, nor FIFA itself truly need this competition. The La Liga chief warned that funding the event with FIFA’s own resources would divert money away from national associations.
The Spanish league executive’s comments come amid growing opposition to FIFA’s decision-making process. Just a day earlier, the global players’ union FIFPro and European Leagues filed an official complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of anti-competitive behavior. La Liga has joined this coalition in challenging FIFA’s actions.
Tebas criticized FIFA for not consulting domestic leagues on major decisions, including the Club World Cup expansion, the rescheduling of the 2022 World Cup, and the enlargement of the men’s World Cup to 48 teams from 2026. He called for proper negotiations between FIFA, leagues, and players’ unions regarding the international match calendar.
The La Liga president’s speech resonated with many attendees representing clubs, leagues, and players’ unions across Europe. His remarks highlight the ongoing tensions between domestic football organizations and FIFA over the governance and future direction of the sport.
Tebas also used the platform to announce La Liga’s return to European Leagues, an organization it had previously left due to disagreements. This move appears to be a direct response to the collective action being taken against FIFA’s policies.
