Club Leon`s exclusion from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup has been confirmed after their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was denied. The ban is a result of FIFA`s regulations concerning multi-club ownership, requiring Leon to be replaced in the tournament commencing on June 14th.
To fill Leon`s vacant position in Group D, which also includes Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis, FIFA has announced a single-game playoff match between Los Angeles FC and Club America. These teams were selected because LAFC was the runner-up to Leon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, and Club America is the highest-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation rankings.
This playoff presents a significant opportunity, particularly financially, as every Concacaf club participating in the tournament is guaranteed $9.55 million in prize money from FIFA. This amount does not include potential additional earnings of $2 million for a win and $1 million for a draw during the group stage.
Such a sum is substantial for any club, likely exceeding what they could earn from their domestic leagues, thereby adding considerable pressure to the playoff encounter. Reports suggest that LAFC is expected to host this decisive match at BMO Stadium on May 31st. While LAFC has a match scheduled against the Colorado Rapids on that same date, Club America`s calendar will be clear as the Liga MX Clausura playoffs are anticipated to have concluded by then.
FIFA commented on the situation, stating, “FIFA welcomes the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to reject the appeals of CF Pachuca, Club León and Asociación Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in relation to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.”
The reason behind Leon`s ban is that both Leon and Pachuca are owned by the same entity, the Pachuca Group. Since plans to sell Leon did not materialize in time, FIFA`s rules permitted only one club from the group to enter the tournament, with Pachuca being the designated participant. Both Pachuca and Leon appealed the decision to CAS, asserting their compliance with eligibility rules, but their appeal was ultimately unsuccessful.
Additionally, Costa Rican club Alajuelense filed an appeal with CAS, arguing that they should be the team to replace either Leon or Pachuca if one was removed. CAS reviewed this case but also rejected their claim. This outcome left the decision on how to fill the empty spot in Group D solely with FIFA.
In anticipation of the tournament, Leon had reportedly strengthened their squad, notably with the signing of James Rodriguez. Although he will not have the chance to lead Leon in the Club World Cup, he can still help them pursue the Liga MX Clausura title as they are scheduled to play Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals of that competition on Thursday.
Dominic Ashworth