Islamabad, 22 March 2025: FIFA has announced that Club Leon will be excluded from the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States later this year.
The decision follows a review of complaints concerning the multi-club ownership rules.
Both Leon and CF Pachuca, the two Mexican clubs in the marquee tournament, are owned by the same parent company, Grupo Pachuca.
Leon had secured its place in the tournament by winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, while Pachuca qualified as the 2022 champion.
However, Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense raised concerns over the clubs’ ownership structure, claiming it violated the competition’s eligibility principles.
As a result, Alajuelense filed a formal complaint with FIFA last November, seeking a spot in the tournament.
FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against both clubs and ultimately determined that they failed to meet the criteria related to multi-club ownership.
The rules stipulate that no club in the competition may have any influence over the management, administration, or sporting performance of another club.
In response to the decision, Leon expressed disagreement, stating that the club operates autonomously in all aspects.
The Mexican team has confirmed its intention to appeal the ruling through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Meanwhile, Pachuca’s participation remains unaffected, and the club has not been given a reason for the exclusion of Leon.
As the Club World Cup approaches, FIFA emphasized the significant financial stakes in the tournament, with $1 billion in prize money available.
Leon, drawn in Group D alongside Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance, will need to wait for a replacement team to be named.
