FIFA has made the drastic decision to remove James Rodriguez’s Club Leon from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, just three months before the tournament’s start. With a spot now vacant, speculation has arisen about whether Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr could step in to fill the void.
On Friday, March 21, 2025, FIFA officially announced Club Leon’s exclusion, citing the team’s failure to meet the multi-club ownership criteria outlined in the organization’s regulations. Club Leon, part of Grupo Pachuca alongside CF Pachuca, will not participate in the competition, leaving a vacant spot in the tournament.
With the vacancy now open, the question of which team will replace Club Leon has taken center stage. One name that immediately emerged on social media was Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. The speculation is fueled by the fact that Al Nassr could potentially step in to represent the Saudi Pro League. However, the chances of Ronaldo’s team participating in the 2025 Club World Cup are slim.
First, Al Nassr lost their opportunity to qualify for the tournament earlier this month when they were eliminated in a penalty shootout by Al Ain in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League quarterfinals on March 11, 2025. The defeat meant Al Nassr, which had dreams of participating in the World Cup, would not be able to proceed to the final and secure a spot in the tournament.
In a major twist, FIFA outlined that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has been allocated four spots for the World Cup, and Al Nassr finished fifth in the AFC rankings this year. They fell behind teams like South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, both of which still aim to qualify. The implications of these rankings mean that Al Nassr’s hopes of entering the World Cup as a replacement are diminished.
Another prominent contender to replace Club Leon is Los Angeles FC (LAFC). The MLS team reached the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup but ultimately lost to Club Leon, which means they missed out on automatic qualification to the Club World Cup. Therefore, while LAFC is in the conversation as a potential replacement, their previous loss complicates their chances.
In the broader context, several other teams from the CONCACAF region are also in contention. Possible candidates include Club America, Philadelphia Union, and Cruz Azul, ranked third, fourth, and fifth in the region’s standings respectively. However, the situation becomes complicated by FIFA's regulations. According to FIFA, “A limit of two clubs per country will be applied to the access list, with an exception in cases where more than two clubs from the same country win the most important club competition of the confederation during the four-year period.” Since Monterrey and CF Pachuca already represent Mexico, this leaves Liga MX and MLS clubs with limited opportunities to secure the replacement spot.
A potential dark horse in this race is Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, a Costa Rican team that initiated the claim against Club Leon to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Sitting at 15th in the CONCACAF rankings, Alajuelense does not have the high ranking that others do, but their proactive claims against Club Leon grant them a chance to be considered for the vacancy.
As the situation stands, the talking points surrounding Club Leon's exit from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup reflect not just FIFA's regulatory framework but also the sentiments of competitive football on the global stage. With only a few months before the tournament kicks off, the push for inclusion from various clubs will continue.
While Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr has found itself front and center amidst the speculation, their prior elimination and subsequent ranking diminish their chances. Fans and analysts alike will be watching as FIFA navigates the complicated landscape of club ownership and qualification as they eye the prestigious tournament.
