Mexican soccer club León has been ousted from the Club World Cup after losing their legal battle against Fifa. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected León’s appeal to overturn their removal due to being in the same ownership group as another qualifier, Pachuca. As a result, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC or Mexico’s Club América are likely to replace León in the tournament through a one-game playoff.
Fifa has the authority to designate the final qualified team for the Club World Cup 2025, and a playoff between LAFC and Club América is under consideration. The potential playoff game, which could secure the winner nearly $10 million from the prize money fund, has not yet been scheduled.
The dispute arose after Fifa allowed León to enter the tournament draw despite the ownership issue. León and Pachuca qualified for the Club World Cup by winning the Concacaf championship in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Grupo Pachuca, the owner of both clubs, expressed willingness to sell one of them to comply with Fifa rules but could not do so before the tournament.
Fifa’s new rules aim to prevent multiple teams under the same ownership from participating, aligning with long-standing practices in European competitions. The legal proceedings highlight the complexities surrounding club ownership and eligibility for prestigious tournaments like the Club World Cup.
