FIFA has identified two leading candidates from North America to fill León’s vacant slot if the expulsion stands. Los Angeles FC, runner-up to León in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Club América, considered the highest-ranked CONCACAF team per FIFA’s calculations, could soon square off in a winner-takes-all playoff.
Though no final date has been set, reports suggest FIFA wants to move quickly. LAFC’s involvement would shine an even brighter spotlight on MLS, which continues to grow its reputation worldwide. However, Club América head coach André Jardine voiced sympathy for León’s predicament. “León should go to the Club World Cup,” he told reporters. “I’m sad for the institution and hope they can find a solution.”
León still has a chance to reclaim its spot if the Court of Arbitration rules in its favor. The club insists there’s enough administrative separation from Pachuca to comply with FIFA’s regulations, although that argument faces stiff opposition from Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, which also appealed to CAS for consideration.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, carrying a total prize pool of about $1 billion and awarding $125 million to the winner, is set to kick off in the United States on June 14. If nothing changes, León’s Group D opponents—Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis—will need a new challenger in the months ahead.
For now, James Rodríguez’s lament resonates with every León supporter. “We won on the pitch,” he said. “If they leave us out, it’s not going to be fair.” Whether the CAS agrees will shape the fate of one of Mexico‘s most determined clubs—and decide who walks onto the world stage in their place.
