'It’s heartbreaking' - Former manager Nicolás Larcamón laments León’s Club World Cup exclusion

Following Club León’s expulsion from the Club World Cup for failing to comply with FIFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, Nicolás Larcamón - now head coach of Necaxa - addressed the situation. The Argentine had secured León’s qualification to the international tournament during his tenure as their manager in 2023, when they defeated LAFC in the final of the Champions Cup.

"Both groups - the players and the people behind the scenes - truly deserved to live that World Cup experience," Larcamón said. "Unfortunately, on the administrative and legal side, the ruling couldn’t be overturned. And with the tournament so close, it’s heartbreaking. The players’ dreams, the fans’ hopes, all the people who had made reservations and were preparing to be there - it all ended like this. I feel for the supporters, the players, and all the workers who were part of that achievement."

Larcamón managed León for 50 matches, recording 22 wins, 12 draws, and 16 losses. He became a fan favorite during his time with the Esmeraldas.

León will miss out on the Club World Cup, a decision that didn’t sit well with Larcamón, the architect behind the team’s 2023 Champions Cup title. Now focused on Necaxa and their upcoming quarterfinal clash against Tigres, the Argentine coach still showed solidarity with his former team.

Necaxa’s coach also spoke about the matchup vs. Tigres.

“I’m proud of this team’s effort and resilience. We’ve proven we’re capable and are aiming to reach even greater heights. The next round will be a major challenge, but we’re ready,” he said.

Los Rayos will host Tigres on Thursday in the first leg of the Liguilla quarterfinals, while next Sunday they’ll visit Estadio Universitario to close out the series and fight for a spot in the semifinals.