FIFA Club World Championship: LAFC and Club America Battle for Vacant Spot

LAFC and Club America will meet in a play-off game for the last place at the World Club Championship after the arbitral tribunal for Sport has confirmed the decision of FIFA to drive the Club Leon.

In March, FIFA found that Club Leon and Mexican colleague Pachuca did not meet the tournament regulations for multi-club ownership.

Since both clubs are owned by Grupo Pachuca, FIFA has the Club Leon from the tournament, which takes place in the USA from June 15th to July 13th.

The winner of the unique play-off tie between LAFC and the Mexican team Club America, who will bring the free space in Group D, alongside Chelsea, Flamengo and Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

Chelsea will play either LAFC or Club America on June 16 in their opening game of the competition in Atlanta.

CAS received separate calls from Pachuca and Club Leon to cancel the decision and to explain that the clubs meet the requirements for the WM -WMS World Championship.

Club Leon also submitted an additional appeal against the decision of the FIFA General Secretary in order to be set in the competition.

However, the original decision of the FIFA confirmed in a statement that a committee had found that Club Leon “did not meet the criteria in the regulations”.

“The committee examined the evidence, including Club Leon Trust’s owners, and came to the conclusion that this trust was not enough to comply with the regulations,” said CAS.

“As a result, the Club Leon remains excluded from the competition and Pachuca remains qualified.”

CAS also dismissed an appointment of the Costa Rican Side Liga Deportiva Alajuelse (LDA), who said they should be taken up as the next authorized team to the Club World Championship.

LDA had lifted the Central American Cup 2023, but CAS said that he rejected the calling “with the reasons to follow later” and the FIFA was “responsible for naming the final qualified team for participation”.

LAFC was beaten by the Club Leon in the final of the Concacaf Champions League 2023, while Club America is the top rated team behind Club Leon in the Confederation ranking, which does not qualify for the competition.

A date and an event location for the play-off match were not confirmed.