FIFA Announces Playoff Plans to Replace León in Club World Cup

In a recent statement, FIFA confirmed plans to hold a playoff match between Club América and LAFC to determine which team will replace Club León in the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This decision comes after León was disqualified from the tournament for violating competition regulations that prohibit two clubs with shared ownership from participating.

León’s Disqualification

Club León was officially removed from the Club World Cup on March 23, 2025, due to its ownership by Grupo Pachuca, which also controls another Liga MX team, Pachuca. According to FIFA’s regulations, two teams under the same ownership cannot compete in the same tournament.

Upcoming Playoff Details

If León’s appeal against its removal is unsuccessful, the one-off playoff between Club América and LAFC will proceed to determine the replacement team. FIFA stated that the playoffs would be activated upon the outcome of León’s appeal, with a hearing scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on April 23, 2025, in Madrid. Both León and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense from Costa Rica are set to present their arguments during this hearing, following Alajuelense’s complaint about León’s eligibility.

Qualification Process

LAFC earned its place in the playoff as the runner-up to León in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League, while Club América was selected as the top-ranked team based on FIFA’s confederation ranking criteria. The statement from FIFA clarified that “the winner of the play-off would qualify unless legal proceedings rule otherwise.”

Potential Impact of León’s Appeal

The decision regarding the replacement will hinge on the outcomes from León’s appeal against FIFA’s ruling. If the club successfully reinstates itself, the plans for a playoff would be rendered unnecessary.

Recent Comments from Club América’s Head Coach

Club América’s coach, Andre Jardine, expressed support for León, emphasizing the importance of their participation in the tournament. “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. He noted that while they aspire for a chance at the Club World Cup, it’s crucial for América to earn their place competitively.

Event Timeline and Venue

The 32-team Club World Cup is slated to take place from June 14 to July 13, 2025, culminating in the final match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

ESPN Mexico’s Omar Flores Aldana contributed to this report.