According to reports, FIFA is evaluating LAFC from MLS and Club America from Mexico as possible replacements for Club Leon in the Club World Cup. Club Leon was excluded from the tournament earlier this month due to violations of competition regulations.
ESPN reports that LAFC is being considered for the Club World Cup spot. This comes after their loss to Club Leon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final, which was Club Leon`s qualification path to the competition. Club America is also under consideration for the vacant spot as the highest-ranked Concacaf team not already qualified for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup. FIFA is thinking about a single playoff game between LAFC and Club America to determine the replacement, but these plans are not yet confirmed.
Club Leon`s expulsion from the Club World Cup this summer occurred after Alajuelense of Costa Rica filed a complaint in February with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The complaint alleged that the Mexican club breached competition rules related to ownership. The rules prohibit two clubs under the same ownership group from participating in the Club World Cup. After confirming that Club Leon is owned by Grupo Pachuca, which also owns Pachuca, FIFA decided on March 23 to remove Club Leon from the competition.
Club Leon has appealed this decision to CAS, with a hearing scheduled for April 23 in Madrid. LAFC and Club America are required to submit their legal documents by Wednesday to present their arguments during the CAS proceedings. Alajuelense will also be present to argue their case. FIFA will wait for the CAS process to conclude before finalizing plans to replace Club Leon.
The team that ultimately fills the Club World Cup slot will be in a group with Chelsea from England, Esperance de Tunis from Tunisia, and Flamengo from Brazil in the June group stage.
As FIFA manages this situation, here`s a breakdown of realistic and less realistic candidates to take the final spot in the Club World Cup.
LAFC
The most straightforward option is LAFC. Given that Club Leon qualified by winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions League, a strong argument can be made that LAFC, as the runners-up, should be offered the spot.
Club America
A relatively simple, though slightly more complex choice is Club America. FIFA has used a four-year ranking system in various confederations to decide some Club World Cup participants. These rankings haven`t always aligned with individual confederation rankings but have generally been accepted. FIFA could use Concacaf rankings, and if they do, Club America is the highest-ranked team not currently qualified. However, head coach Andre Jardine has mixed feelings about his team`s potential participation.
`León should go to the Club World Cup. I`m sad for the institution, and I`d like them to find a solution so they can go,` Jardine stated, according to ESPN. `If that doesn`t happen, then América has been performing well for a while. It’s true we haven’t yet won the Concacaf Champions Cup, which is a dream and a clear goal. We are leading in most Mexican tournaments and the Concacaf ranking, which is a criterion. If you ask if I want to go to the Club World Cup, yes, but I`d prefer to qualify by winning on the field. That’s what we are aiming for.`
Club Leon
There is still a possibility that Club Leon wins their appeal, rendering this entire situation moot. However, the likelihood of this is uncertain, as article 10 of FIFA’s Club World Cup ownership rules is quite clear: `No person or legal entity may control or exert influence over more than one club participating in the competition.` While CAS will hear the appeal in a few weeks, Club Leon has already outlined the basis of their defense.
`We disagree with this decision and will pursue it to the highest sports authorities, as all evidence and documentation demonstrating our administrative and sporting independence were presented transparently and with ample opportunity,` Club Leon said in a statement responding to their expulsion. `We will defend what we earned on the field fairly and professionally, adhering to all competition rules.`
Alajuelense
Alajuelense initiated this situation with their February complaint to CAS, accompanied by a strong statement: `The lawsuit demonstrates the existence of multi-ownership between Club Leon and Pachuca, and that no team has a greater right than ours to participate in the next Club World Cup.` It`s unclear what `right` they refer to, as they were eliminated in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League semifinals by LAFC, not Club Leon. It`s also improbable that Alajuelense would have qualified through other methods, but they will have the opportunity to present their case on April 23 to have any chance of participating.
The long shots
Recent reports suggest FIFA will seek the most logical solution to fill the Club World Cup vacancy, which is not always characteristic of the organization. The perception of this expanded 32-team competition has been somewhat unserious. Players and coaches have voiced concerns about fixture congestion, and securing venues, broadcast partners, and sponsors has been challenging. Adding to this, the sporting aspects are also questionable. The four-year ranking system has been confusing, and FIFA’s selection of Inter Miami over MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy (the league`s choice) as the host nation representative raised eyebrows.
Although FIFA stated Inter Miami`s berth was a reward for winning the Supporters’ Shield, it was widely seen as a move driven by Lionel Messi’s popularity and associated financial gains. Therefore, as the Club Leon issue unfolded, it was easy to imagine FIFA selecting a random team to inject some prestige into this poorly organized and unpopular competition.
Al-Nassr: Cynics immediately thought of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr as a possible invite, given the Inter Miami selection precedent. However, this hasn`t happened, and arguably, the Club World Cup is better off from a sporting perspective as a result.
Barcelona: Commercial appeal will likely influence the list of potential contenders, as the entire competition seems focused on maximizing these opportunities. Barcelona’s absence from the Club World Cup might be seen as a missed opportunity for revenue, especially considering the potential for a match against Real Madrid in the knockout stages. However, coaches and players might not mind missing out, even if the financially strained club could have benefited from the extra income.
Manchester United: Similar to Barcelona, Manchester United appears to be a natural candidate if FIFA opts for a random team to replace Club Leon for financial reasons. With minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe emphasizing cost-cutting and profit maximization, evident in layoffs and plans for lucrative postseason and preseason games in Asia, the US, and Europe, they seem like a suitable choice.
Adrian Whitmore