MEXICO CITY — The Mexican soccer team Leon has been disqualified from participating in the Club World Cup following a ruling by FIFA’s appeals committee. The decision was based on a violation of the organization’s regulation against the ownership of multiple clubs by a single entity.
Both Leon and Pachuca, another Mexican team, secured spots for the upcoming Club World Cup set to take place in the United States. However, these teams share the same owner, Grupo Pachuca, which led to the ruling. FIFA released a statement confirming that both clubs did not comply with the criteria related to multi-club ownership.
As of the verdict, there has been no announcement regarding which team will replace Leon in the competition. During the appeal proceedings, Grupo Pachuca defended its stance by arguing that its clubs operate as independent entities. Furthermore, the organization had committed to selling Leon but has not yet followed through with the transaction.
In response to the ruling, Grupo Pachuca declared its intention to pursue an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The organization expressed its dissatisfaction with the ruling, stressing that they had submitted comprehensive evidence to demonstrate the administrative independence of the clubs involved. Grupo Pachuca emphasized its determination to protect its achievements on the field.
Ahead of the competition, Leon made a strategic move by signing Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez to boost their competitiveness within Group D, which consists of teams like Brazil’s Flamengo, Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive Tunis, and England’s Chelsea.
In Mexico’s top soccer division, besides Leon and Pachuca, other companies own multiple teams. Grupo Caliente is responsible for Tijuana and Queretaro, while Grupo Orlegi controls Atlas and Santos. Likewise, TV Azteca holds ownership of Mazatlan and retains partial stakes in Puebla.
Prior to FIFA’s release of the Club World Cup guidelines in November last year, Mexican league owners decided to phase out multi-club ownership, providing owners until the year 2027 to divest accordingly. The presence of two clubs under the same ownership in such a tournament drew concerns from Costa Rican club Alajuelense, prompting them to urge FIFA to enforce the rules on ownership.
Alajuelense openly supported FIFA’s decision, claiming it aligns with their advocacy for fair and transparent competition. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing legal process at the CAS, anticipating that justice will ultimately prevail and regulatory guidelines will be upheld.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) had qualified four teams for the Club World Cup: Seattle Sounders, Monterrey, Leon, and Pachuca. Additionally, FIFA extended an invitation to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to join the tournament.