Club Leon will not participate in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup after their appeal against a ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The ban is a result of FIFA`s regulations concerning multi-club ownership.
To fill the vacant spot in Group D of the tournament, FIFA has announced a single-match playoff between Los Angeles FC and Club America. These two teams were selected based on specific criteria: LAFC was the runner-up in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, while Club America holds the top ranking among Concacaf teams in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation standings.
This playoff presents a significant financial opportunity, as each Concacaf club participating in the main tournament is guaranteed a minimum of $9.55 million in prize money from FIFA, with additional funds available for group stage wins or draws. This sum is considerable and exceeds what either club typically earns from their respective domestic leagues, adding substantial stakes to the decisive playoff match.
The playoff game is scheduled to be hosted by LAFC at BMO Stadium on May 31. While LAFC currently has another fixture planned for that date, Club America`s schedule is clear, as the Liga MX Clausura playoffs will have concluded.
FIFA released a statement welcoming the CAS decision, which rejected appeals filed by CF Pachuca, Club León, and Asociación Liga Deportiva Alajuelense regarding the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The basis for Leon`s ban stems from the fact that both Club León and CF Pachuca are owned by the Pachuca Group. FIFA rules permit only one club under the same ownership group to participate. Efforts to sell Club Leon were not completed in time, meaning only Pachuca will represent the group in the tournament. The appeal to CAS by Leon and Pachuca argued for their eligibility, but it was ultimately deemed non-compliant.
A separate appeal was filed by Costa Rican side Alajuelense, requesting to be the replacement team if either Leon or Pachuca were excluded. CAS also heard and subsequently rejected this appeal, leaving the decision on how to fill the spot solely with FIFA.
Club León had bolstered their roster, notably adding players like James Rodriguez, potentially with the Club World Cup in mind. Although Rodriguez won`t have the chance to compete for that title with Leon, he will still aim to lead them in domestic competition, as they are set to face Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals of the Liga MX Clausura playoffs.
