CLUB WORLD CUP
FIFA kicks Mexico’s Leon out of Club World Cup due to ownership rule breach
Club Leon will be removed from the Club World Cup in the United States later this year as it and another Mexican club in the tournament, CF Pachuca, failed to meet criteria on multi-club ownership, world soccer’s governing body said on Friday.
Both Leon and Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca. Leon had qualified after winning the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2023 while Pachuca won the competition last year.
However, Costa Rican side Liga Deportiva Alajuelense filed a complaint with FIFA in November based on the “eligibility principles” of the competition, requesting the right to participate in the Club World Cup.
Disciplinary proceedings were opened by FIFA against both Mexican clubs and the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee referred the case to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
“After having evaluated all evidence on file, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided that CF Pachuca and Club Leon failed to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership,” FIFA said in a statement.
“…FIFA has determined that Club Leon will be removed from the competition, with the club to be admitted as a replacement to be announced in due course.”
FIFA did not state the exact multi-club ownership criteria the Mexican clubs had failed to meet.
The competition’s regulations include many stipulations regarding ownership such as that no club in the competition can be involved in any capacity in the management, administration or sporting performance of any other club or hold shares or securities in any other club.
Alajuelense, who are 30-times champions of the Costa Rican top flight and won the Central American Cup in 2023, felt they should be allowed to take part instead.
The Costa Rican club said last month that they had gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after FIFA failed to act on their complaint, requesting a ruling no later than a month before the start of the tournament.
A lot is at stake in the inaugural edition of the expanded 32-team competition, with FIFA saying the prize money on offer will be $1 billion.
Pachuca’s spot at the June 14-July 13 competition was unaffected and the club said they had not been informed of the reasons for the decision.
Leon said they disagreed with FIFA’s decision and would appeal in the sport’s highest courts if they were denied a place at the Club World Cup.
“In the last few months we have presented all the evidence and documents confirming that Club Leon manages itself in an autonomous manner in all economic, administrative and sporting aspects,” it said.
Leon were drawn in Group D alongside Premier League side Chelsea, Brazil’s Flamengo and Tunisian side Esperance. They were due to play their first match against Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta.
-Reuters
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At least 147 African players will take part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer in the United States, as announced by Gianni Infantino.
The new Club World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 13, 2025, in the United States, and Africa will be represented by four teams: Wydad Casablanca, Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance Tunis (Tunisia), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
A total of 147 African players will compete in the competition, as announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while attending the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo.
These 147 players will be distributed among 16 of the 32 participating teams, from five continents. The manager adds that 22 African countries will be represented at this global event.
Al Ahly are taking part in their 10th World Cup, while Esperance are participating in the competition for the 4th time, WAC will be playing in their 3rd World Cup, while this is Sundowns’ 2nd appearance.
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The prize money for this year’s 32-team Club World Cup to be held in the U.S. between June 14-July 13 will be $1 billion, soccer’s governing body FIFA said on Wednesday.
With $2 billion expected in revenues, FIFA reserves will remain untouched and some of the money generated will also be dedicated to club football around the world, FIFA president Gianni Infantino added in a statement.
“FIFA will not keep a single dollar,” he said.
-Reuters
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With the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup soon entering the exciting quarter-finals stage, an increase in global attention will be on the African game, as four strong African contenders prepare to represent the continent at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The new and expanded version of the global club showpiece will take place in the United States between 14 June and 13 July 2025.
Reigning African champions Al Ahly SC, Tunisian giants ES Tunis, Morocco’s Wydad AC and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa are the four clubs set to compete in the 32-club competition featuring some of the best clubs in world football.
CAFOnline takes a look at how the four representatives might fare at the much-anticipated competition.
Al Ahly SC – Egypt
The African champions will be making their 10th appearance at FIFA Club World Cup, with an impressive record of three bronze medals from their previous nine showings.
Guided by the 64-year-old Marcel Kohler who has enjoyed great success with the club, bagging two successive CAF Champions League titles with the Red Devils, a lot will be expected of the club heading to the US firmly carrying the title of African champions.
The Egyptians face a mammoth task, having been drawn in Group A along with CONMEBOL COPA Libertadores champions SE Palmeiras (Brazil), FC Benfica (Portugal) as well as Lionel Messi’s inspired Inter Miami CF (USA).
The 12-time African champions will be banking on the experience of their experienced campaigners such as Hussein El Shahat, Mohammed Al Shenawy as well as Mohamed Hany who have been highly instrumental in their most recent silverware collection.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis – Tunisia
Tunisian giants, Espérance Sportive de Tunis are headed to their fourth FIFA Club World Cup, having appeared at the competition’s 2011, 2018 and 2019 editions.
The Tunisians are yet to make a mark at the global showpiece and will be looking at stamping their authority as one of the best teams from the continent.
Last season’s CAF Champions League runners-up are drawn in Group D alongside former European champions Chelsea FC, Brazil’s CR Flamengo as well as Club Leon of Mexico.
Captained by Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida who marshals the defence, the Tunisians will be relying on the trickery and speed of their attack that will be led by the likes of Youcef Belaili and newly signed Elias Mokwana.
Mamelodi Sundowns – South Africa
This year’s edition marks Mamelodi Sundowns’ second FIFA World Cup appearance after their 2026 debut in Japan.
The South Africans find themselves in a tough Group F alongside German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense FC of Brazil as well as Ulsan HD of Korea.
Affectionately known as the Brazilians for their enterprising style of play, the stage is set for the former African champions to shine under their new coach, Miguel Cardoso.
Key to Sundowns’ success will be their South American signings, Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Brazil) Marcelo Allende (Chile) as well as Lucas Suarez (Argentina) who seemed to have gelled well at the club.
Wydad AC – Morocco
Proud hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2030, Morocco will be fully behind their club Wydad Athletic Club when they make their first FIFA Club World Cup appearance.
Having successfully stamped their authority as one of Africa’s best clubs, the Moroccans will be using the global showpiece to grow their presence at the world stage.
Drawn in a tough Group G along with English champions Manchester City, UAE’s Al Ain FC as well as Italian giants Juventus, the Moroccans have a tough group stage assignment ahead of them.
Currently undergoing a rebuilding phase under former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena, the FIFA Club World Cup presents an exciting challenge for the club, as they look to rebuild in what looks to be a new era for the former African champions.
-CAF
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