FIFA has refused to list Spanish defender Marc Cucurella as a Real Madrid player during the 2026 World Cup, despite the Spanish giants officially announcing his transfer from Chelsea midway through the tournament.
Real Madrid announced the signing of the Spanish left-back on June 15, four days after the World Cup kicked off. However, all official FIFA match documents and reports continued to register Cucurella as a Chelsea player.
FIFA’s decision stems from tournament regulations: Cucurella was registered in Spain’s official squad list as a Chelsea player—the club he represented throughout the previous season, where his strong performances earned him a spot in the La Roja squad.
The world governing body kept the London club’s name alongside Cucurella on all matchday sheets and official documentation throughout Spain’s title-winning campaign, despite Real Madrid actively unveiling and supporting their new signing on social media.
This official distinction could cost Real Madrid financially. Under FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme, compensation fees awarded to clubs for releasing players to national teams are expected to go to Chelsea instead.
While Los Blancos had hoped to receive a share of the World Cup payout following Spain’s victory, FIFA’s policy of relying on player registration data at the start of the tournament directs those funds back to Stamford Bridge.
FIFA allocates significant daily compensation to clubs for every day their players remain in the tournament, calculated based on the total duration of each player’s participation.
