With Club Léon expelled from the FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA has taken on the challenge of finding a new club to fill out the 32-team tournament, which is set to hit the United States this summer.
On Sunday, ESPN reported that it will likely be one of MLS’s LAFC or Liga MX’s Club América and that FIFA has drawn up plans for a playoff match to decide which would join the competition.
Later Sunday, FIFA confirmed tothat it is looking into the potential of a playoff match, saying: "FIFA can confirm it is considering one play-off match between LAFC and Club America for the right to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, replacing Club Léon following the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee."
"LAFC would participate as runner-up to Club Léon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League through which Club Léon had qualified. Club América would participate as the top-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation ranking through which qualification is also determined."
”The winner of the play-off would qualify unless legal proceedings rule otherwise."
Léon were kicked out of the competition due to double club ownership rules, with the club being owned by Grupo Pachuca, a group which also owns Pachuca, another team competing in the Club World Cup.






