Club Leon has officially lost their appeal against being banned from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup due to regulations concerning multi-club ownership. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the decision, meaning Leon must be replaced in the tournament which starts on June 14.
To fill Leon`s spot in Group D, alongside Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis, FIFA has announced a single playoff match. This game will feature Los Angeles FC and Club America to decide the final participant from Concacaf.
These two teams were selected because LAFC finished as runner-up to Leon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, and Club America holds the highest ranking among Concacaf teams according to FIFA`s confederation standings. This playoff presents a significant financial opportunity, as every Concacaf club in the tournament is guaranteed $9.55 million in prize money from FIFA, plus potential bonuses for wins ($2 million) and draws ($1 million) in the group stage.
This substantial sum significantly exceeds potential earnings from their respective domestic leagues, adding considerable pressure to the decisive playoff match. Reports indicate that LAFC will host the game at BMO Stadium on May 31. This date clashes with a scheduled match for LAFC against the Colorado Rapids, while Club America will have finished their Liga MX Clausura playoff commitments by then.
FIFA released a statement welcoming the CAS ruling, 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.”
Leon`s ban stems from the fact that both Club Leon and CF Pachuca are owned by the same entity, the Pachuca Group. FIFA rules allow only one club from the same ownership group to participate. Efforts to sell Leon did not finalize in time, resulting in Pachuca being the club permitted to participate. Both Leon and Pachuca had appealed to CAS, arguing that they met the eligibility criteria despite the shared ownership, but their appeal was unsuccessful.
Costa Rican club Alajuelense also filed an appeal with CAS, asserting they should be the replacement team if Leon was excluded. CAS also heard and rejected this appeal, leaving the decision on how to fill the vacant spot in Group D entirely up to FIFA.
Despite strengthening their roster, including the high-profile signing of James Rodriguez, with the Club World Cup now out of reach, Leon will instead focus on their domestic challenge. James Rodriguez will aim to lead the team in the Liga MX Clausura playoffs, where they are scheduled to face Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals.
Adrian Whitmore