Club Leon to be replaced at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by winner of LAFC vs. Club America play-off

Club Leon have been ruled ineligible to compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The Mexican side had originally qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League (now known as the Champions Cup), but a decision by the FIFA Appeal Committee found that Pachuca and Club Leon had breached regulations concerning multiple club ownership.

On Tuesday, FIFA announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected an appeal by Club Leon, Pachuca, and Alajuelense. In the same announcement, FIFA confirmed that MLS side LAFC and Liga MX's Club America will meet in a play-off to determine a replacement for Club Leon.

"In line with the applicable tournament regulations, FIFA has decided that the team to be admitted as a replacement for Club León will be determined through a play-off match between Los Angeles FC (runners-up to Club León in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup) and Club América (top-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation ranking at the conclusion of the 2024 edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the last season taken into account for clubs to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025)," the statement read.

"The winners will automatically qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and will take the position of Club León in Group D."

A date and venue for the play-off match is yet to be confirmed, although GIVEMESPORT reported that the game will take place May 31 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

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