FIFA announced late Sunday that it has formulated a plan for a playoff match between LAFC and América to determine the final participant. LAFC, as the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League runner-up to León, and América, the next highest-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation ranking, are slated to compete for the coveted slot. However, this playoff is contingent upon the resolution of ongoing legal proceedings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The eligibility of América, one of Mexico's most popular clubs, has raised eyebrows, given FIFA's rule limiting each country to two entries unless they possess more than two continental championship winners within the qualifying period.
"The winner of the playoff would qualify unless legal proceedings rule otherwise," FIFA stated, highlighting the precarious nature of the situation.
The legal battles involve León's impending appeal to CAS against their expulsion and a separate claim by Costa Rican club Alajuelense, asserting their right to qualification.
The stakes are high, with the contested entry guaranteeing an initial $9.55 million payment from FIFA and a share of the $1 billion prize pool, potentially reaching $125 million for the tournament winner.
CAS has scheduled a hearing for Alajuelense's case on April 23 in Madrid, while León's formal appeal is yet to be filed.
The Club World Cup's opening match, featuring Lionel Messi's Inter Miami against Al Ahly of Egypt, is set for June 15, with León initially scheduled to play the following day.
The tournament's qualification process primarily relied on continental championship victories between 2021 and 2024, resulting in the participation of giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Seattle Sounders.
The controversy stems from FIFA's multi-club ownership rules, which were in place when Pachuca, also owned by Grupo Pachuca, secured the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup, following León's victory the previous year. Grupo Pachuca's owner had announced León's intended sale in December to comply with FIFA regulations.
Despite the rules prohibiting teams from the same country from being drawn in the same group, they could potentially meet in knockout rounds.
FIFA's tournament regulations, including "Article 10: Multi-Club Ownership," were drafted in October, yet León and Pachuca were both included in the December 5 draw, which featured Ivanka Trump and her son Theodore. León's scheduled matches against Chelsea, Esperance, and Flamengo had already led to ticket sales and travel arrangements.
The abrupt expulsion of León, announced by FIFA's appeal judges after more than three months, has left fans and stakeholders in a state of uncertainty.