Courtesy: FIFA/Google
In a rather surprising turn of events, FIFA expelled Mexican side Club Leon from Club World Cup 2025. The reason behind the expulsion is that it violates the rules of multi-ownership. Club Leon, a Mexican football superpower, defeated Los Angeles FC in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final and won the first leg 2-1 at home before claiming the trophy for the first time in California with a 1-0 victory. In the process, the Mexican team qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023, where they fell 1-0 to Urawa Red Diamonds in the second round.
"Club Leon will be removed from the competition, with the club to be admitted as a replacement to be announced in due course," FIFA said in a statement. This came after the protest from Costa Rican team Alajuelense, a FIFA appeals committee, decided that Leon and another Mexican club, Pachuca, did not comply with tournament criteria governing multi-club ownership. Grupo Pachuca owns both sides. Leon, who won the 2023 regional CONCACAF Champions Cup, was eliminated from the tournament, but Pachuca, the CONCACAF champions in 2024, was allowed to continue.
We are an independent and sovereign team: Club Leon against the disqualification
Upon getting disqualified from the Club World Cup 2025, Club Leon expressed anger via a post on social media, mentioning it "goes against the spirit of fair competition," and is now looking forward to an appeal.
"We are an independent, autonomous, and sovereign team. Let there be no doubt," Leon protested, adding that they "won the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League title with fairness and professionalism." The club further protested, stating, "a measure that is cruel, unfair, which we do not endorse, and we do not know who it benefits, but who it harms: our fans." "Club Leon will appeal this decision, and we will go to the ultimate lengths to defend the place we attained in the Club World Cup," it further stated.
As per AFP, this expel will cost Leon dearly, as it and other CONCACAF clubs were set to receive a $9 million fee from FIFA for participation in the group stage.
