Here we go.
FIFA is planning a one-game playoff between Club América and LAFC to determine which team will replace Club León at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, according to reports from ESPN.
Fuentes comentaron a ESPN que FIFA está considerando un partido entre América y LAFC para definir el último cupo de CONCACAF en el Mundial de Clubes, si León no tiene éxito en su caso ante el TAS.
— Lizzy Becherano (@lizzy_becherano) March 30, 2025
The possibility of this playoff was even confirmed by Gianni Infantino, with the FIFA President saying the match between the two is only 'possible' once León's removal is completely confirmed.
"Si el TAS confirma sanción, posiblemente JUGAR UN PARTIDO PLAYOFF ENTRE EL EQUIPO QUE PERDIÓ LA FINAL QUE ES @LAFC y el siguiente equipo en el ranking QUE ES @ClubAmerica", Gianni Infantino, Presidente de FIFA
#ContactoDeportivo EN VIVO por TUDN pic.twitter.com/4g0CgJ5TBc— Contacto Deportivo (@ContactoTUDN) April 15, 2025
Club León was removed from the tournament on March 23 after FIFA ruled that its participation would breach competition rules. Specifically, the regulations prevent two clubs with the same owner from competing in the Club World Cup. León is owned by Grupo Pachuca, which also owns Liga MX club Pachuca. FIFA’s statement clarified that, according to the 2025 Club World Cup regulations, León would be removed and a replacement team would be announced later.
Just a week later, it is now being reported that playoff plans for a match between Liga MX's América and Major League Soccer's LAFC will be activated if León's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be reinstated is unsuccessful. CAS has scheduled a hearing for April 23 in Madrid, where León and Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense will present their cases. Alajuelense originally filed the complaint with CAS, arguing that León’s participation violated FIFA regulations and that they should be granted the spot instead.
LAFC, the runner-up in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League, which León won, and Club América, the highest-ranked Concacaf team not already qualified, are a pair of FIFA's 'favorite' options for a replacement team and given past precedents — such as Red Bull Salzburg’s entry into the tournament based on UEFA rankings — FIFA would decide to give both teams a chance through a one-game playoff.
The possible date and venue for the match are still to be determined..
The 2025 Club World Cup is set to kick off on June 14, with Inter Miami holding the match opener against Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium.
