Club Leon has been excluded from the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States after FIFA found that both Leon and fellow Mexican club CF Pachuca failed to meet multi-club ownership criteria.
FIFA’s decision came after Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, a Costa Rican club, challenged their eligibility.
Both Mexican clubs are owned by Grupo Pachuca. Leon qualified for the tournament by winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, while Pachuca secured a spot by winning last year’s edition.
However, Alajuelense argued that FIFA’s rules prohibit clubs with shared ownership from competing in the same tournament.
Following an investigation, FIFA’s Appeal Committee ruled that the two clubs violated multi-club ownership regulations.
While FIFA did not specify which criteria were breached, the rules restrict any club from influencing another team’s management, administration, or sporting performance.
Leon has strongly opposed the ruling and stated that it operates independently. The club is expected to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Meanwhile, Pachuca’s participation in the tournament remains unaffected.
FIFA has not yet confirmed which team will replace Leon in the competition, where they had been drawn in Group D alongside Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance.
