FIFA Expels Mexico’s Club Leon from Club World Cup Due to Ownership Breach
FIFA has announced that Club Leon will be removed from this year’s Club World Cup in the United States due to a breach of the tournament’s multi-club ownership regulations. Both Leon and CF Pachuca, the two Mexican teams that qualified for the competition, are owned by Grupo Pachuca. Leon earned its spot by winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, while Pachuca qualified after winning the same competition the year before.
The removal stems from a complaint filed by Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in November, claiming that the multi-club ownership structure of Pachuca and Leon violated eligibility principles for the tournament. Alajuelense requested to take part in the competition instead, arguing that FIFA should allow them to replace the Mexican club. FIFA subsequently opened disciplinary proceedings against both Mexican clubs, and the case was referred to the FIFA Appeal Committee for review.
After evaluating the case, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee determined that both Pachuca and Leon failed to meet the necessary criteria on multi-club ownership. As a result, FIFA announced that Club Leon would be removed from the tournament, though a replacement team will be announced in due course. The specific criteria that were violated have not been disclosed, but FIFA’s regulations prohibit any club in the competition from being involved in the management, administration, or sporting performance of any other club, or holding shares in another club.
Alajuelense, who are 30-time champions of the Costa Rican league and won the 2023 Central American Cup, has expressed disappointment with FIFA’s decision. The Costa Rican club has taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting a ruling by the end of the month, ahead of the tournament’s start.
FIFA’s decision comes as the inaugural 32-team expanded Club World Cup is set to offer $1 billion in prize money, making it a highly anticipated event. Despite Leon’s expulsion, Pachuca’s spot in the competition remains secure, and the club has yet to be informed of the reasoning behind the decision.
In response to the ruling, Club Leon expressed disagreement with FIFA’s decision and made it clear they plan to appeal to the sport’s highest courts. The club maintains that it operates independently in all economic, administrative, and sporting matters. Leon was drawn into Group D of the tournament alongside Premier League side Chelsea, Brazilian club Flamengo, and Tunisia’s Esperance, with their first match scheduled against Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta.
