Club that was due to play Chelsea at Club World Cup disqualified from tournament as FIFA release statement
03/21/2025 02:02 PM
Chelsea’s first opponents at this summer’s Club World Cup have been expelled from the competition, FIFA has announced.
Mexican side Club Leon will not play in the 32-team event in the United States after a FIFA appeals committee determined they and fellow Liga MX club, Pachuca, failed to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership.
The two clubs sit under the same ownership model of Grupo Pachuca.
Article 10.1 of the tournament regulations states that no club participating in the competition may directly or indirectly hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in the competition.
Costa Rican club Alajuelense had previously questioned the decision to allow both teams to feature in the revamped competition based on the tournament rules.
FIFA announced on Friday that it would announce a replacement club in due course.
A FIFA statement read: "Following disciplinary proceedings opened against CF Pachuca and Club Leon, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to refer the case directly to the FIFA Appeal Committee in accordance with article 56 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
"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 defined under article 10 paragraph 1 of the regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
"In line with article 10 paragraph 4 of the regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, 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."
Chelsea were due to face Leon in Atlanta on June 16 but now face a wait to see who they will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against.
Chelsea’s other group opponents are Flamengo of Brazil and Tunisian side Esperance.
The expanded Club World Cup will see 32 teams head to the United States at the end of the European domestic campaign.
The tournament will run from June 14 to July 13 with world football's big hitters taking part.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League’s representatives due to their recent Champions League and Club World Cup successes.
Pep Guardiola's men face Moroccan side Wydad AC, Emirati outfit Al Ain FC before rounding off the group stage with a clash against Italian giants Juventus.
The new format will see clubs battle it out for the prize every four years, in a format that mirrors the international World Cup.
The top two from each group will progress to the last 16 before single-leg ties are played up until the final which will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
