The club Leon, which features Colombian star James Rodriguez, had submitted an official appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s decision to exclude them from the tournament, alongside the Mexican club Pachuca. However, the court upheld FIFA’s decision, confirming that both clubs violated the tournament regulations.
With this decision, Leon officially loses its spot in the World Cup, while Pachuca retains its participation. A playoff match will be held between Club America from Mexico and Los Angeles FC from the United States to determine which team will secure the remaining spot in the Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the summer of 2025 in the United States.
The Costa Rican club Alajuelense had submitted a separate appeal to claim the spot, but it was also rejected.
