Alexander-Arnold says World Cup should never have been for sale as he settles into Madrid life

Trent Alexander-Arnold has come out firmly against FIFA’s now-abandoned plan to seek private investment in its tournaments, telling the Mirror that the World Cup is a football “institution” that should not be “shared and owned by different people.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was forced to drop the proposal, which would have seen a private company take a stake in the running of FIFA tournaments including both the men’s and women’s World Cups. Alexander-Arnold, 27, was unequivocal in his opposition. “I just don’t think that’s something that’s appropriate,” he said. “It’s a football institution that should remain that way… it’s something that should stand alone by itself.”

The Real Madrid right-back also opened up about life in the Spanish capital following his move from boyhood club Liverpool last year — a transition he described as a significant cultural shift. The late-night dining culture in Madrid caught him off guard early on. “I remember the first time we went for dinner, and it’s literally just me in the restaurant. I left about 9pm… and that’s when people started to come in,” he laughed. Despite that, he said he had been “welcomed better than I could ever have imagined,” adding that the heat, the language barrier, and the broader lifestyle change had gradually started to feel normal.

Alexander-Arnold’s first season at the Bernabéu was hampered by two significant injuries at critical points in the campaign, and Real Madrid ended the year without a trophy. He described the period honestly: “It feels like it wasn’t the greatest season for me in terms of coming here.” However, the arrival of new manager José Mourinho has given him a sense of renewal. “It feels like a fresh start — a new manager, with new faces around the training ground, as well as tactics, ways of training. It feels fresh and new.”

The interview follows comments Alexander-Arnold made in the Sunday Mirror about his acrimonious exit from Liverpool, including being jeered by supporters on his return to Anfield in November for a Champions League fixture, which Liverpool won 1-0. He was introduced from the bench in the 80th minute to a hostile reception.

On the reaction from fans inside the stadium, he drew a distinction between legitimate supporter frustration and behaviour that “crossed the line.” “Abuse online and threats made via social DMs or in other ways are a sad part of life in 2026 if you’re in the public eye,” he said. “I choose to keep those things away from me because they don’t feel real.”