'Nothing is official' - Club América executive downplays Club World Cup entry amid uncertainty

Despite growing speculation and recent comments from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Club América remain cautious about fully committing to the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The situation centers on Club León, whose participation hangs in the balance following allegations of violating FIFA’s rules on multi-ownership. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to issue a final decision next week. Should León be officially excluded, the vacant spot would likely be decided through a play-in match between América and LAFC.

While América has tried to stay removed from the controversy, potential dates for the match have already been floated, with May 21 and May 28 in the United States emerging as possibilities.

Speaking to TUDN, América’s operational president, Héctor González Iñárritu, made it clear that the club is not prioritizing the situation just yet.

“We’re treating it as something secondary because nothing is official,” he said.

Infantino recently suggested that a direct elimination match between León and LAFC would determine the final Concacaf representative. However, if León is ruled ineligible, América would step into that role. Even with FIFA hinting at such a scenario, Las Águilas remain focused on domestic priorities, particularly the upcoming Clausura 2025 Liguilla.

Amid speculation surrounding a potential spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Club América’s leadership continues to emphasize its commitment to domestic objectives. Team executive Iñárritu made it clear that the focus remains on the upcoming Liguilla, not on hypothetical scenarios.

“Right now, we’re fully focused on preparing for the Liguilla,” said González Iñárritu. “If that [Club World Cup] opportunity presents itself, we must be respectful of CAS timelines, of FIFA’s rules, statutes, and procedures - after all, it’s the global governing body.”

He underlined that until there is an official decision, América won’t allow speculation to distract from its current priorities.

“Until something official comes through and the possibility becomes real, we can’t afford to lose focus,” he added.

González Iñárritu also dismissed the ongoing discourse as premature and unproductive, emphasizing the importance of concentrating on what the club can actually control.

“I don’t want to get caught up in that discussion because, frankly, it leads nowhere at this point. If the opportunity does materialize, we’ll address it then. For now, our attention is on the championship, on the possibility of winning a fourth straight title, on recovering key players, and being as prepared as possible,” he concluded.

América will face a familiar and difficult opponent in the Liguilla quarterfinals, as recent matchups against Pachuca have proven challenging. In their last five meetings, Las Águilas have managed just one victory, highlighting the difficulty André Jardine’s side could face as they pursue a historic fourth consecutive title.

The last time these two clubs met in a knockout round was during the 2023-2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, where Pachuca eliminated América en route to lifting the trophy. That recent setback adds extra weight to this quarterfinal clash.

América will face Pachuca in the Liguilla quarterfinals, which kick off on May 7 and 8. The Azulcremas will play the second leg at home.