Club León has been excluded from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and now the big question is: which team will take their place? The Mexican side was ruled out due to multi-ownership regulations related to Grupo Pachuca, which also owns CF Pachuca, another qualified club. The decision has sparked a debate over who should step in as the replacement.

FIFA Will Use Its Own Club Ranking

Initially, it was believed that the next club would be chosen based on the Concacaf ranking, but FIFA later clarified that the decision will be made by its General Secretariat, using FIFA’s own club ranking—a different system from the one used by Concacaf.

In this ranking, Monterrey appears as the best-positioned club from the region, followed by Pachuca—both already qualified. That makes Club América, currently the third-best-ranked team, a logical candidate.

Regulations Complicate América’s Case

However, the tournament’s regulations state that no country can have more than three representatives, unless all of them won the Concacaf Champions League between 2021 and 2024.

📌 América did not win the continental title during that period, which could block their inclusion even if they are next in line in the rankings.

Could Tigres or Philadelphia Union Get the Spot?

Another potential replacement is Tigres UANL, who won the Concachampions in 2020. However, that year falls outside the qualifying range, making it a less viable option.

From MLS, Philadelphia Union could emerge as a serious contender. The American club ranks well and, importantly, is not subject to the country-limit restriction, making them a realistic option in FIFA’s eyes.

Alajuelense Takes Legal Action

In Central America, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense is also vying for the spot. The Costa Rican club has even taken their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that their sporting merit and lack of ownership conflicts make them a suitable replacement.

FIFA has yet to officially announce who will replace Club León. With several clubs making their case, the competition for that vacant slot is heating up.

🗓️ A final decision is expected in the coming weeks, and it could have a major impact on which region and league gains an extra place in the expanded 32-team Club World Cup.