Real Madrid goalkeeper celebrating with two teammates dressed in white uniforms during a soccer match — Thibaut Courtois and Fede Valverde did not speak to the media before the semifinals against PSG | Enrique Sanz

Camara — Thibaut Courtois and Fede Valverde did not speak to the media before the semifinals against PSG | Enrique Sanz

Canceled: Courtois and Fede did not speak last night before the match for this reason

Both players missed their interview with the media before the semifinals

09/07/2025 10:15:00h

Enrique Sanz

Real Madrid has already started the countdown to face PSG in the Club World Cup semifinals. Xabi Alonso's pupils are one of the clear candidates to claim victory in the competition organized by FIFA, but first they must defeat the current European champion. It won't be an easy match.

The first hours leading up to that match haven't started with good news for the white squad, since the white expedition has suffered a setback while traveling to New York. The scheduled times for Xabi Alonso's pre-match press conference, as well as the players' interviews, have been canceled according to FIFA.

A Real Madrid player controls the ball in the air during a match against Borussia Dortmund while several players watch the play on the field.

Gonzalo García sets up inside to shoot at goal against Borussia Dortmund | Real Madrid Confidencial

The flight transporting the white team from Palm Beach Gardens (where its "headquarters" was located for this Club World Cup) couldn't take off at the scheduled time due to storms. That weather condition persisted for more than two hours, which postponed all plans prior to the semifinal clash.

Given those storms over New York, Real Madrid's plane had to circle the city for approximately two hours. That wait for the right moment to land meant that the merengue coach and its footballers arrived late to their commitments with the media.

Impossible to fit the schedules

That's why Thibaut Courtois, Jacobo Ramón, and Fede Valverde couldn't participate in their scheduled interviews in the mixed zone of MetLife Stadium. The weather difficulties have become a constant in this Club World Cup, although FIFA hasn't always had a plan to redirect the situation in the face of such a frequent possibility.

The absence of Real Madrid's footballers for their conversations with the media wasn't the only one. That change of plans due to Real Madrid's disrupted flight meant that Xabi Alonso couldn't offer his impressions and comments before the match against PSG either.

Four Real Madrid players celebrate together in a locker room surrounded by white jerseys hanging in the background.

This is the player who remains the most beloved by all Madridists | Enrique Sanz

While it's true that FIFA tried to reschedule those times so the Tolosa coach could offer that press conference, it couldn't become a reality as they desired. Real Madrid will face PSG after a turbulent trip to New York, marked by storms that've been protagonists in this Club World Cup.

Indeed, FIFA has always decreed a 30-minute break for all matches affected by storms. The clash between Real Madrid and RB Salzburg had an identical forecast, but in the end, the weather conditions decided to respect the practice of soccer in the stadium assigned by the International Federation.

➡️ First Team