No Lionel Messi x Barcelona reunion... yet! FIFA hasn't offered invite to La Liga giants amid Club Leon expulsion drama

Barcelona and Lionel Messi will have to delay their plans of reuniting as MARCA reports that FIFA has not extended an invitation to the Spanish heavyweights after Mexican side Club Leon were removed from the tournament for violating multi-club ownership rules.

The teams participating from Europe have been selected based on their performances in Europe since 2021, excluding their results in the ongoing season, as well as the cumulative coefficient during the previous three seasons. The world governing body did not offer an invitation to Barca considering the fact that they were eliminated from the Champions League group stages in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and didn't perform well in the Europa League either.

Leon were removed from the Club World Cup because they have some shareholders in common with fellow Liga MX outfit Pachuca, who will also be participating in the tournament. May 6 has been set as the date of hearing after the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) accepted Leon's appeal against FIFA's decision.

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has already confirmed that the spot left vacant following Leon's expulsion will be contested by Club America and Los Angeles FC in a one-off playoff tie.

No official date has been set for the playoff between the two clubs. Leon’s final hearing is scheduled for May 6, while the Club World Cup kicks off on June 14.