WEBDESK: Mexican football club Club León has been removed from the FIFA Club World Cup due to a multi-club ownership rule violation, FIFA announced. The tournament, set to take place from June 14 to July 13, 2025, in the United States, will now have a replacement team for León.
Why Was Club León Removed?
FIFA rules state that no two clubs under the same ownership can compete in the same FIFA Club World Cup. Club León and Pachuca are both owned by Grupo Pachuca, which violates FIFA regulations.
Despite León winning the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2023 and earning a spot in the tournament, FIFA ruled that they do not meet eligibility requirements.
León Plans to Appeal
Club León strongly disagrees with the decision. The club insists that it operates independently in financial and sporting matters. León has stated that if they are not reinstated, they will appeal to the highest courts.
“In the last few months we have presented all the evidence and documents confirming that Club Leon manages itself in an autonomous manner in all economic, administrative and sporting aspects,” the club added.
Who Will Replace Club León?
FIFA has not yet announced which team will replace León in the FIFA Club World Cup. Costa Rican club Deportiva Alajuelense, which won the 2023 Central American Cup, had previously challenged León’s eligibility.
Impact on the Tournament
Club León was originally scheduled to play Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta as part of Group D, alongside Flamengo (Brazil) and Esperance (Tunisia). Pachuca, the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners, will still compete in the tournament.
A Fifa spokseperson said: “Fifa takes note of the decision by the Fifa Appeal Committee which followed an independent process.
“The integrity of all competitions is paramount, and further details will be provided in due course in line with article 10.4 of the Fifa Club World Cup Regulations 2025.”
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