FIFA has excluded Mexico’s Leon from participating in the Club World Cup due to a violation of regulations, three months before the tournament begins.
Mexico’s Liga MX Club Leon has been disqualified from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States after FIFA ruled on Friday that they violated regulations concerning multi-ownership. FIFA announced that Leon’s replacement in the tournament will be revealed later.
Both León and CF Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca. FIFA regulations prohibit more than one club owned by the same group from participating in the competition. Grupo Pachuca operates as a professional football club. Before the announcement of the decision, Grupo Pachuca contended that the two clubs function independently.
The decision to remove Club Leon from the tournament was made by FIFA’s general secretary.
“No person or legal entity may control or exert influence over more than one club participating in the competition,” this refers to Article 10 paragraph 4 of FIFA’s ownership rules for the 2025 Club World Cup.
The 2025 Club world Cup is to be played in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. It is planned to be the first under an expanded format with 32 different clubs from six FIFA continental confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA). The decision made by the FIFA Appeal Committee regarding CF Pachuca and Club León.
