FIFA has confirmed a playoff match will determine the final team participating in this summer’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup. The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that rejected appeals from Mexican clubs Club Leon and Pachuca regarding multi-club ownership regulations.
Los Angeles FC and Club America are expected to face off in a one-off game May 31. The winner will replace Club Leon, which was removed from the tournament due to its ownership structure under Grupo Pachuca, which also owns Pachuca. A separate appeal by Costa Rican side Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA) to fill the vacated spot was also rejected by CAS.
The playoff winner will join Group D alongside English side Chelsea, ES Tunis of Tunisia, and Brazilian club Flamengo. Club Leon had originally qualified as the winner of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final, where they defeated LAFC.
Inter Miami is another MLS team set to participate, having qualified in the extra spot awarded to a team from the host nation by winning the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield. They join Palmeiras, Porto, and Al Ahly in Group A. However, midfielder Sergio Busquets expressed reservations about the team’s current ability to compete at the tournament.
Busquets stated that the Inter Miami team is "not at the level to compete at the Club World Cup," though he insisted they would attempt to advance from their group. His comments followed the team's elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals by Vancouver Whitecaps, losing 5-1 on aggregate over two legs.
Head coach Javier Mascherano echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the Whitecaps proved to be the team on the field in their recent matchup. Busquets' assessment puts into perspective the challenge faced by the host nation's MLS representatives against some of the world's top clubs.
The FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to run from June 14 to July 13, featuring 32 teams in a format similar to the traditional FIFA World Cup. Games will be played across multiple cities in the United States, with the final set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Qualification for the tournament was primarily based on winning continental titles between 2021 and 2024 or via a ranking pathway. Other qualified Concacaf teams include Monterrey and Seattle Sounders, who won previous editions of the Concacaf Champions League.
Participation in the tournament offers substantial financial rewards. Each of the four participating CONCACAF teams are guaranteed $9.55 million just for qualifying. Progressing through the knockout stages offers additional prize money, with significant sums available for teams reaching the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
Busquets told DAZN the team would "Go game by game, fight and hopefully advance to the next round though it'll be difficult."
