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Club León’s road to the Club World Cup
In 2023, Club León made history by winning their first CONCACAF Champions League title, earning a place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
A landmark victory
León’s triumph came after a determined campaign that ended in a two-legged final against MLS side Los Angeles FC:
– First leg (31 May, Estadio León): León won 2–1 with goals from William Tesillo and Ángel Mena. Denis Bouanga scored late for LAFC to keep the tie alive.
– Second leg (4 June, BMO Stadium): Lucas Di Yorio’s early goal secured a 1–0 win, sealing a 3–1 aggregate victory for León.
A place on the world stage, then controversy
Their Champions League win secured their spot at the Club World Cup, highlighting their quality on the pitch. However, off-field issues later threatened their participation in the global tournament.
Why Club León was excluded: FIFA’s ownership rules
Club León was removed from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup due to strict regulations on Fifa’s multi-club ownership regulations. These rules are meant to protect the fairness and integrity of the tournament.
What the rules say
FIFA’s Article 10.1 states: “No person or legal entity may control or exert influence over more than one club participating in the competition.”
This aims to avoid conflicts of interest by ensuring clubs under the same ownership don’t compete in the same tournament.
León and Pachuca: same owner, same issue
Both Club León and CF Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca. León qualified in 2023; Pachuca in 2024. Since both earned a spot but share ownership, they violated FIFA’s rule.
FIFA’s Disciplinary and Appeal Committees confirmed that the two clubs were not sufficiently independent in decision-making.
An attempt to comply, but not enough
Grupo Pachuca tried to resolve the issue by putting Club León into a trust, hoping to show independence. FIFA rejected the move, saying it didn’t truly separate ownership.
In the end, only one club could compete. Since Pachuca qualified more recently, León was excluded from the 2025 tournament.
How Club León was disqualified
Club León’s removal from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup followed a series of regulatory reviews and appeals centred on FIFA’s rules against joint ownership regulations.
Initial concerns
León qualified by winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. But since both León and CF Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca, their shared ownership conflicted with FIFA’s Article 10.1, which bans any entity from controlling more than one club in the same tournament.
FIFA’s ruling and León’s response
In March 2025, FIFA’s Appeal Committee ruled that both clubs were under the same control. As only one could stay, Pachuca, having qualified more recently, was allowed to remain. León was removed.
León disputed the decision, claiming the clubs operated independently. They proposed placing León in a trust to meet FIFA’s criteria, but the move was rejected for not fully resolving the ownership issue.
Final verdict from CAS
On 6 May 2025, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA’s decision. The panel found that the trust was insufficient to comply with the rules, confirming León’s exclusion from the tournament.
Backlash over Club León’s exclusion
FIFA’s decision to exclude Club León from the 2025 Club World Cup sparked strong criticism from fans, players, and analysts, who called it deeply unfair.
León’s response
The club issued a sharp statement condemning the ruling as “cruel” and “unfair.” They argued their qualification, earned by winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, was based on sporting merit. León also highlighted the disruption caused to fans who had already made travel plans and insisted that, despite shared ownership, they operate independently from CF Pachuca.
James Rodríguez speaks out
Midfielder James Rodriguez Eduardo Berizzo, who joined León hoping to play in the Club World Cup, called the ruling a “grave injustice.” He questioned FIFA’s motives and voiced sympathy for supporters whose plans were upended.
Public and expert criticism
León fans flooded social media with frustration, accusing FIFA of valuing bureaucracy over on-field success. Football analysts agreed, warning that the decision could damage the tournament’s credibility and set a troubling precedent.
Calls for reform
The controversy has fuelled a wider debate about FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Critics argue that while the regulations aim to protect fairness, they can end up punishing clubs and players who earned their place. The case has highlighted the need for clearer rules and greater transparency in football governance.
León’s replacement and what it means
After Club León’s disqualification from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA needed a replacement to keep the tournament balanced.
Play-off to fill the spot
The match was held on 31 May 2025 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. LAFC won 2–1 in extra time, securing their place in Group D alongside Chelsea, Flamengo, and Espérance de Tunis.
Impact on the tournament
LAFC’s entry brings new energy to Group D and gives Major League Soccer a chance to shine on the world stage. It also highlights the growing strength of North American football.
But the way LAFC qualified through administrative decisions rather than sporting merit has sparked debate. Critics question whether FIFA’s rules, though intended to protect integrity, unfairly punish teams that earned their spot on the pitch.
The case points to a larger challenge in football governance: balancing fair play, commercial interests, and complex ownership structures. As multi-club ownership becomes more common, FIFA may need to revise its policies to avoid future controversies.
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