This play-in match was necessitated by the expulsion of another Mexican club, León, from the 32-team tournament. FIFA determined that León's participation violated tournament integrity rules due to their shared ownership with fellow Club World Cup entrant, Pachuca. León's appeal against this decision was recently dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, paving the way for this decisive encounter.
The stakes for both LAFC and América are significant. The victor will not only secure a coveted spot in the revamped Club World Cup but also a guaranteed initial payment of $9.55 million from FIFA, allocated for teams from the CONCACAF region. Beyond this, they will have the opportunity to compete for a share of the staggering $1 billion prize pool on offer throughout the month-long competition, which will be hosted across 11 cities in the United States.
The reward for navigating this playoff successfully is a challenging group stage assignment. The winning team will find themselves in a group alongside English powerhouse Chelsea, with their match scheduled for June 16th in Atlanta. Following this, they will face Esperance of Tunisia in Nashville and conclude their group fixtures against Brazilian giants Flamengo in Orlando.
The timing of the playoff adds an intriguing layer to the footballing landscape. The match in Los Angeles will take place several hours after the UEFA Champions League final in Munich between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain – both of whom have already secured their places in the Club World Cup.
The inclusion of Club América in this playoff has raised some eyebrows. While they are undoubtedly one of Mexico's most popular and successful clubs, FIFA's regulations typically limit each country to a maximum of two participants in the Club World Cup, unless more than two teams from that nation have won their respective continental championships within the four-year qualifying window leading up to 2024. With Pachuca and Monterrey already confirmed participants, the rationale behind América's eligibility, despite not being a continental champion during that period, remains somewhat unclear based on typical FIFA rules.
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup, heavily promoted by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, is set to be a landmark event in global football. The tournament will feature teams from across all six confederations, vying for the prestigious title. The final, scheduled for July 13th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is already generating considerable buzz.