In a significant turn of events for the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Mexican club Club Leon has been expelled from the tournament following a ruling that deemed them in violation of multi-club ownership regulations. The announcement came from FIFA on March 21, 2025, after the club, along with fellow Liga MX member Pachuca, failed to meet specific requirements related to shared ownership.
Club Leon, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League champions, along with Pachuca, are both owned by Grupo Pachuca. This ownership structure raised concerns that contradicted Article 10.1 of the tournament regulations, which prohibits any club participating in the competition from directly or indirectly holding or dealing in the securities or shares of any other participating club.
A Costa Rican club, Alajuelense, had previously challenged the participation of both clubs in the expanded 32-team tournament set to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. FIFA confirmed the validity of this challenge in a statement explaining their decision.
FIFA's disciplinary proceedings initially opened against CF Pachuca and Club Leon, leading to the referral of the case to the FIFA Appeal Committee. After carefully evaluating the evidence, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee concluded that both clubs failed to meet the required criteria regarding multi-club ownership.
"Following disciplinary proceedings opened against CF Pachuca and Club Leon, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to refer the case directly to the FIFA Appeal Committee in accordance with article 56 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," FIFA's statement read. "After having evaluated all evidence on file, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided that CF Pachuca and Club Leon failed to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership defined under article 10 paragraph 1 of the regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025."
As a result, FIFA announced that Club Leon would be removed from the competition, with a replacement team to be confirmed shortly. Chelsea was originally scheduled to face Club Leon in Atlanta on June 16, and now awaits the announcement of their new first opponent.
In a rapidly changing landscape, Chelsea is set to face renowned clubs such as Flamengo of Brazil and Tunisia's Esperance de Tunis in their group. Meanwhile, Manchester City will play against Morocco's Wydad AC, United Arab Emirates' Al Ain FC, and Italian giants Juventus.
The FIFA Club World Cup is known for showcasing the best teams globally, and the new format mirrors that of the international World Cup. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages, culminating in a final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13, 2025.
Grupo Pachuca’s owner, Jesus Martinez, previously indicated willingness to modify their ownership structure to comply with the rules. In December, he mentioned he would consider selling a controlling stake in Leon before 2027 to ensure continued participation in significant tournaments.
Following the announcement of their expulsion, Club Leon expressed their disagreement with the decision and hinted at potential legal action to resolve the matter. In a statement, the club asserted their position: "Club Leon expresses its disagreement with the decision made by FIFA, which could exclude us from the next Club World Cup. In recent months, we have presented each piece of evidence and documents confirming that Club Leon operates autonomously in all economic, administrative, and sporting aspects. Should Club Leon be prevented from participating in the 2025 Club World Cup with the same rights with which it earned a place on the pitch, we will pursue the matter to the fullest extent possible in the highest sporting courts."
This dispute raises questions about the enforcement of international football regulations, particularly as multi-club ownership becomes more common worldwide. As the tournament approaches, fans and analysts alike will be monitoring how FIFA handles the situation moving forward and what implications it will have for other clubs in similar ownership scenarios.
As it stands, the CONCACAF representation in the Club World Cup now includes Monterrey, Seattle Sounders FC, and the remaining participation of Pachuca, who qualified after winning the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. They will face formidable opponents including Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, and Red Bull Salzburg in Group H.
With Club Leon's seat at the table now vacated, the Club World Cup's stakes have gotten even higher as clubs continue to vie for a shot at football’s most prestigious trophy.