Red Card for Mexican Team Intensifies Club World Cup Troubles
The FIFA Club World Cup preparation is facing challenges as Mexican side Club León has been expelled for breaching multi-club ownership rules, sparking legal and operational debates ahead of the tournament in Miami, June-July 2025.
Published on March 28, 2025
The revamped FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in Miami from June to July 2025, has encountered significant hurdles. One of the primary issues involves the expulsion of Mexican team Club León for breaching multi-club ownership rules, a decision that has unfolded over the past week with investigations and appeals. Sources indicate that both Club León and their sister team Pachuca, owned by Grupo Pachuca, failed to meet the tournament’s strict criteria, prompting legal challenges and claims from clubs such as Costa Rica’s Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.
In addition to this controversy, organizers are navigating a complex landscape of commercial deals and financial allocations, including a $1 billion broadcasting deal with DAZN and a similar investment from Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports. The tournament will feature 32 teams competing in 63 matches, with prize money for winners reaching up to $125 million. Despite concerns over player welfare and the congested calendar, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains optimistic about the event’s potential to highlight global club football ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.