Cliff Notes – Kylian Mbappé misses training ahead of Club World Cup opener
- Kylian Mbappé missed Real Madrid’s training session due to a fever, raising concerns ahead of their opening match against Al Hilal in the Club World Cup.
- The tournament presents an opportunity for new coach Xabi Alonso to secure a trophy, following a challenging previous season for the team.
Kylian Mbappé misses training ahead of Club World Cup opener
Kylian Mbappé missed Real Madrid training with a fever on Tuesday, the day before the team’s first game at the Club World Cup.
Madrid will play Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, on Wednesday afternoon in their opening match in Group H.
In the team’s open training session in Palm Beach Gardens on Tuesday, Mbappé played no part, with a club spokesperson telling ESPN the forward had a fever.
Mbappé was one of the team’s outstanding players last season in a difficult campaign for Madrid, scoring 43 goals in all competitions.
The Club World Cup is a chance for new Madrid coach Xabi Alonso to begin his time in charge with a trophy.
Madrid have already added Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen to their squad, as they look to bounce back from a season which saw them finish second in LaLiga and eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, centre-back Huijsen described Alonso as “a good coach with clear ideas.”
“Everyone knows what he has been, and what he is,” Huijsen said. “As a coach he’s accomplished great things, and as a player the same. We’re all excited.”
The Club World Cup has already seen some complaints from players and coaches about the heat, with Madrid’s game in Miami due to kick off at 3 p.m. ET local time.
“The truth is that the heat is counterproductive at times, but for our opponents too,” midfielder Dani Ceballos said. “We’re training at these times, and we want to be ‘comfortable’ within that discomfort.”
Temperatures for Tuesday’s match are expected to reach 32°C (89.6°F) with humidity set to hover around 70%.
The world players’ union FIFPRO has suggested FIFA should revise scheduling, if needed.
“FIFPRO has consistently advocated for comprehensive heat protection measures including mandatory cooling breaks, adjustments to kick-off times to avoid the most intense heat, and the postponement of matches when conditions pose a serious health risk to players,” FIFPRO said.
“With tournaments like the Club World Cup featuring dense match schedules and hot climates in locations such as Orlando and Miami, extreme heat is becoming an increasingly important health and safety issue in professional football.
“FIFPRO will closely monitor the situation in the coming weeks with a view to prioritising player welfare over other considerations.”
The current rules permit one mandatory break per half.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
