In a surprising turn of events, Club León has been excluded from the 2025 Club World Cup, creating a potential opening for Club América to take their place. This decision comes as FIFA upheld its ruling regarding multi-club ownership rules, which León, along with Club Pachuca, violated due to both clubs being under the same ownership group, Grupo Pachuca. FIFA stated, "After having evaluated all evidence on file, the chairman of the FIFA appeals committee has decided that CF Pachuca and Club León failed to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership."
The exclusion was officially announced on March 21, 2025, and although León and Pachuca had both qualified for the tournament set to take place this summer in the United States, the conflicting ownership has complicated their participation. Club Pachuca, ranked seventh in the Concacaf standings, has been chosen to represent Grupo Pachuca in the tournament, while León, despite being the defending champion of the Liga MX, remains in the ninth position in the same ranking.
Grupo Pachuca has publicly expressed its dissatisfaction with FIFA's ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The group highlighted their ongoing argument that both clubs operate independently and reiterated a promise to sell Club León to comply with FIFA regulations. "We are dissatisfied with this decision and will appeal it to the fullest extent possible since all evidence... was presented in a timely and transparent manner," the group said in a statement.
As the controversy unfolds, Club León has been making efforts to bolster their squad, recently acquiring Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez in an attempt to enhance their competitiveness in the tournament. They will face tough opposition, including Brazil's Flamengo, Tunisia's Espérance Sportive Tunis, and England's Chelsea in Group D.
This situation has raised broader questions regarding multi-ownership in Mexican football. Many club owners voted to eradicate this practice by 2027, but concerns about fairness and transparency have persisted. Alajuelense, a team from Costa Rica, has been vocal in their criticisms, questioning the legitimacy of having multiple clubs owned by one company compete. "Competition must be fair and transparent. This ruling reinforces our arguments and validates our position," Alajuelense stated in a formal message.
With León's absence, the door is ajar for Club América as they are the highest-ranked team that has not yet secured its spot in the tournament. If FIFA follows the same criteria employed in León's exclusion, América could fill the vacant place. However, the rules stipulate that only two clubs from the same country can participate unless they have each claimed victory in the prestigious Concachampions league, a title that América has not held since 2016.
Clubs like Alajuelense are closely monitoring these developments, demonstrating the international scrutiny on the practices of Mexican football clubs. The challenge for Club América now revolves around navigating FIFA's restrictions and proving their eligibility should the opportunity arise to replace León. While Pachuca holds the official nomination to enter the tournament for the moment, the potential for change remains alive.
Indeed, the multipronged implications of FIFA's decision to exclude León will likely extend beyond this tournament, influencing how clubs operate and interact within the competitive landscape of international football. Leadership and direction from FIFA will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with established protocols, which may also affect the future aspirations of other clubs in similar circumstances.
As it stands, the participation of CONCACAF in the Club World Cup includes four teams: Seattle Sounders, Monterrey, León, and Pachuca, with Inter Miami being an invited guest by FIFA. Although León's involvement has been hindered, the evolving narrative keeps both fans and clubs engaged as the outcomes unfold in the coming months concerning the iconic tournament. The situation provides a fascinating case study on the intersections of ownership, competition, and governance in the world of football.
