Chelsea learn two potential FIFA Club World Cup opponents after Leon's appeal to be reinstated rejected by CAS

FIFA’s original ruling excluded Leon from participating due to a violation of the tournament's multi-ownership policy. Leon and fellow Mexican side Pachuca are both owned by Grupo Pachuca, and FIFA regulations prohibit clubs with the same ownership from competing in the same tournament to avoid conflicts of interest. Leon had originally secured a place in the competition by winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, which served as the region’s qualifying tournament.

Pachuca challenged this ruling by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in hopes of reinstating Leon into the competition. But on Friday, the panel ruled against the appeal, confirming FIFA’s decision as valid and binding.

In a statement, CAS said: "All appeals were consolidated into a single CAS case which was heard at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 5 May 2025. The President of the CAS Panel for this case was Prof. Roberto Moreno (Paraguay), with Prof. Massimo Coccia (Italy) and Dr. Daniel Cravo Souza (Brazil) as co-arbitrators. The CAS Panel has issued an Operative Decision dismissing the three appeals and ruled that Pachuca and Club León failed to meet the criteria in the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup Club 2025 (Art.10.1) concerning multiple club ownership.

"A full CAS Award with reasons for the Decision will be issued in due course. A separate appeal by LDA against Club Leon, Pachuca and FIFA, filed on 3 February 2025, requested that Club Leon and Pachuca’s participation in the Club World Cup was contrary to FIFA regulations and that one of the clubs, or both, should be removed.

"The appeal also requested that LDA should be admitted to the competition in place of a removed team. This case was heard by CAS in person in Madrid on 23 April 2025 and was also rejected today, with reasons to follow later in the full award. The President of the CAS Panel for this case was Prof. Roberto Moreno (Paraguay), with Mr David Arias (Spain) and Mr Juan Pablo Arriagada (Chile) as co-arbitrators. As a result of the CAS ruling, FIFA is responsible for designating the final qualified team to participate in the Club World Cup 2025."

With Leon officially ruled out, FIFA are now organising a one-off playoff match between LAFC and Club America to determine who will take their place in Group D of the competition. The group already includes Chelsea, Brazilian giants Flamengo, and African representatives Esperance de Tunis.

"LAFC would participate as runner-up to Club Leon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League through which Club Leon had qualified," FIFA's statement said. "Club America would participate as the top-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation ranking through which qualification is also determined. The winner of the play-off would qualify unless legal proceedings rule otherwise."

While the identities of the two playoff contenders are now confirmed, FIFA has yet to announce the venue or date for the match. For Chelsea, the decision brings clarity to an uncertain situation, even if their specific opponent remains unknown. The Blues are now guaranteed to face either a Major League Soccer powerhouse in LAFC or Mexico’s most successful club, Club America, in their tournament opener.