FIFA Plans Playoff Between LAFC and Club América for Club World Cup Spot

NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 — FIFA has announced plans to conduct a playoff between Liga MX’s Club América and Major League Soccer‘s LAFC to determine who will replace Club León in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. This unexpected development follows León’s disqualification due to ownership conflict regulations.

On March 23, FIFA ruled that León’s participation in the tournament would breach competition rules, as both León and fellow Liga MX club Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca. The ruling was made public just weeks before the tournament is set to commence on June 14 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“In line with article 10 paragraph four of the regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, FIFA has determined that Club León will be removed from the competition,” FIFA stated. If León’s pending appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) fails, the playoff plans will be enacted.

The CAS is set to hold a hearing on April 23 in Madrid, where León will challenge FIFA’s ruling. They are joined by Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, which initially filed a complaint over León’s inclusion in the tournament. Both clubs are required to submit legal documents by April 2.

“If León’s appeal is unsuccessful, LAFC will face Club América, the highest-ranked CONCACAF team in FIFA’s confederation rankings,” FIFA confirmed. LAFC qualifies as the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League runner-up to León, heightening stakes for both clubs vying for a spot in the prestigious tournament.

“León should go to the Club World Cup. I’m sad for the institution,” said Club América’s head coach André Jardine. “But if it doesn’t happen, then América has been doing things well for a long time.” Jardine emphasized the importance of earning a playoff spot through competition.

FIFA’s decision to exclude León aligns with regulations designed to prevent conflicts of interest in tournament participation. Grupo Pachuca’s control over both León and Pachuca necessitated León’s withdrawal, creating an opening for the Clubs América-LAFC matchup.

If the playoff proceeds, the winner will join Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance de Tunis in Group D of the tournament. León expressed dissatisfaction with FIFA’s ruling, affirming their autonomy from Grupo Pachuca’s management and vowing to fight the decision until the final instance.

“We will appeal until its last instance and in the highest sports court,” stated a spokesperson for Grupo Pachuca. The stakes for the playoff are not limited to a mere spot in the tournament; the victor is also entitled to a share of the $9.55 million FIFA allocates to qualifying teams from the CONCACAF region.

As anticipation builds for the April 23 CAS hearing, both LAFC and Club América are preparing for what could be a pivotal moment in their seasons. LAFC has decided not to comment on the situation, while Club América is aiming to solidify its strong performance in Mexican tournaments alongside securing their place on the world stage.

The Club World Cup marks a significant event in international soccer, presenting an opportunity for clubs from various continents to compete. As excitement grows, all eyes will be on the CAS’s ruling and the resulting playoff match, if necessary.