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FIFA is considering organizing a playoff match between LAFC and Mexico’s Club América to determine who will take Club León’s place in the 2025 Club World Cup. Club León was removed from the competition due to breaches of multi-club ownership rules. The club has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has officially confirmed what was already widely speculated behind the scenes at CONCACAF: if the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) upholds the punishment against Club León, a play-off will be organized between LAFC (2023 Concacaf Champions Cup runner-up) and Club América (the best-ranked team in the region) to decide CONCACAF's last spot at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
LAFC has Brazilian talents in its squad, such as midfielder Igor Jesus, formerly of Estrela da Amadora, and defender Marlon, who played for Fluminense and Barcelona. In the head-to-head record, LAFC has the advantage over Club América, with two wins and one draw in the last three matches.
Nathan Ordaz scores against Club América for LAFC (LAFC / X)
During the event to promote the Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, held in Atlanta, Infantino even joked about the term used in the United States to refer to the football:
“I never understood why they call it ‘soccer’ if the game is played with the feet.”
LAFC and Club América: A Final Before the World Cup?
The possible clash between LAFC and Club América gains even more relevance due to the figures involved and the recent history of the two clubs. Under the command of Brazilian coach André Jardine, Club América is experiencing a golden phase. Since 2023, Jardine has won five titles, including three consecutive Liga MX championships, becoming the most successful coach in the club's history.
André Jardine arrives with the Club America delegation (Club America / X)
If confirmed, the playoff between LAFC and Club América promises to be one of the most anticipated clashes on the CONCACAF calendar:
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⚫ LAFC is seeking its first participation in a Club World Cup after missing out on a place in 2023.
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🟡 Club América, with a vast international tradition, sees this duel as a chance to regain global prominence.
The scenario once again highlights the commercial and sporting weight involved in FIFA's decisions — where the logic of rankings, titles and financial influence can weigh as much as what happens on the field
Club León's exclusion from the 2025 Club World Cup is due to the violation of FIFA's rules on club multi-ownership. Both León and Pachuca are controlled by the Pachuca Group, which violates the competition's rules that prohibit the same entity from having influence over more than one participating club.
“If the CAS confirms the sanction, a playoff will probably be played between the team that lost the final, which is LAFC, and the next team in the ranking, which is Club América”.
Although León earned its place by winning the CONCACAF Champions League in 2023, the simultaneous presence of Pachuca, the 2024 champion, led to León's disqualification. The club appealed the decision to the CAS, and the final verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
