The 2025 Club World Cup is set to begin in less than a month, but FIFA still does not know all the participants who will enter the reformatted competition.
There is still one place set to be earned — one that was not originally available but has been vacant since a court ruling a number of weeks ago.
Club Leon were prepared to be one of 32 clubs from around the world who will contest the revamped tournament, but they were disqualified earlier this year on a technicality. Instead, either LAFC or Club America will take their lucrative berth in the summer competition.
The Sporting News explains why the position is open, why the two playoff participants were chosen, and when the match will be played.
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Why were Club Leon disqualified?
Liga MX side Club Leon were originally set to participate in the 2025 Club World Cup, having qualified by winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
However, the owner of Club Leon also owns another Liga MX club, Pachuca, which violates FIFA's Club World Cup rules on multi-club ownership. "No individual or legal entity may control or exert influence over more than one club participating in the competition," the regulations for the competition state.
Thus, Club Leon were removed from the tournament by the FIFA Appeal Committee in late March. Subsequently, appeals from both Club Leon and Pachuca were rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
MORE: Why Club Leon, and not Pachuca, were removed from the Club World Cup
Why are LAFC and Club America playing for a Club World Cup spot?
FIFA had leeway to decide what clubs would replace Club Leon in the 2025 Club World Cup. The provisions state:
"The FIFA general secretariat shall decide which club may be admitted to the Competition and how a club that is not admitted shall be replaced in accordance with the following principles, taking into account, in particular, the respective ranking(s) of the club(s) concerned and the applicable quota per confederation and/or member association to which the club(s) concerned is/are affiliated."
Thus, FIFA determined that a playoff should be held between the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League runner up (LAFC) and the highest-ranked CONCACAF club not already qualified (Club America).
Costa Rican club CD Alajuelense, who originally brought the multi-club ownership case to FIFA, argued they should be the ones to take the Club World Cup place vacated by Club Leon, but that was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
When is the Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club America?
The match between LAFC and Club America will take place Saturday, May 31 to be hosted by LAFC at BMO Stadium.
The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time in Los Angeles, which is 10:30 p.m. ET.
The winner will earn a direct berth into the 2025 Club World Cup, slotting into Group D alongside Flamengo, Chelsea, and Esperance de Tunis.
MORE: Complete draw and schedule for 2025 Club World Cup