León's Appeal Rejected: CAS Decision Bars Team from Club World Cup

Liga MX Club León has ultimately lost its legal battle with FIFA on Tuesday and will not be participating in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Either Los Angeles FC Alternatively, an America team from Liga MX might step in as a last-minute replacement for the 32-team competition taking place in the United States next month.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the appeal filed by Club León, Club Pachuca, and Costa Rica’s Asociación Liga Deportiva Alajuelense concerning FIFA's choice to substitute the Liga MX side in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Club León initially secured a place in the international tournament by winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup; however, FIFA later decreed that the club must relinquish this position because they violated regulations regarding multiple ownership interests.

The owners of Grupo Pachuca, who own both Pachuca and León, tried to overturn the decision by filing a case with CAS, but they did not succeed.

All appeals were combined into one CASE matter that was examined at the CAS offices in Lausanne. Switzerland On May 5, 2025, ..." stated CAS. "The CAS panel rendered an operative decision rejecting the three appeals and concluded that Pachuca and Club León did not fulfill the requirements set out in the regulations." FIFA World Cup Club 2025 (Art. 10.1) concerning multiple club ownership."

The legal battle unfolded in Switzerland half a year after FIFA allowed León to enter the tournament draw in Miami, even though the multi-club ownership issue was still unresolved at that time.

"The sentence was harsh, the rivals very influential, the pressure intense, and the stakes very high," said club León in a statement. "But those who have suffered most along the way have been our people: fans and footballers deserve more respect from an organization dedicated to promoting sports. But from the beginning, no sporting principle existed in this case."

Club de Fútbol Pachuca from Grupo Pachuca was still eligible to compete after earning a berth by claiming victory in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

FIFA will now hold one playoff match between Club América and LAFC.

FIFA’s statement indicated that LAFC would join the 2023 Concacaf Champions League as runners-up to Club León, who secured their spot through qualification.

"Club América would participate as the top-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation ranking through which qualification is also determined. The winner of the play-off would qualify unless legal proceedings rule otherwise."

The date and venue for the playoff match has yet to be determined.

The winner of the game will replace Club Léon in the Club World Cup's Group D, facing Chelsea FC, Flamengo and ES Tunis.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.