The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is less than three months away. It promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments in the world. Preparations were nearly complete. However, Club Leon were unexpectedly excluded from the competition. The decision came on the morning of Friday, March 21. After the announcement, several clubs stepped forward as potential replacements.
James Rodriguez’s Club Leon had been placed in Group D. They were set to face Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance de Tunis. With Club Leon out, another team will now join the group. The team confirmed it will appeal the decision. Still, other clubs are already making a case to take their place.
The reportedly leading candidate to replace them is Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica. This team was the first to report the connection between Club Leon and Club de Futbol Pachuca in 2024. At the time, Alajuelense were the highest-ranked team outside of Liga MX and MLS. They are not alone. Other clubs are also considered strong candidates to step in.
Which other teams could be candidates to replace Club Leon in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup?
Los Angeles FC of MLS could be a strong candidate to replace Club Leon in the FIFA Club World Cup. Their case makes sense and could gain traction. They were the runners-up in the 2023 Concachampions, the same tournament that earned Club Leon a spot. Because of this, LAFC could argue that the place rightfully belongs to them.
However, Club Sport Herediano of Costa Rica are also in the mix. According to ESPN’s Cesar Caballero, Herediano currently ranks above Liga Deportiva Alajuelense among CONCACAF clubs. That advantage may not last. FIFA is expected to use the rankings published in December 2024 as a reference. In that update, Alajuelense could regain the edge over Herediano.
If FIFA uses the December 2024 ranking as a reference, Club America could have the biggest advantage over all the other candidates. They were the highest-ranked unqualified team in that update. As of today, Club America also holds the top spot among all CONCACAF clubs. That gives them a strong case to replace Club Leon in the tournament.
However, there are already two Mexican teams qualified for the tournament: Club de Futbol Monterrey and Club de Futbol Pachuca. This blocks Club America from entering, as FIFA regulations limit each country to a maximum of two teams. The only exception is for clubs that won the Concachampions between 2021 and 2024. Club America does not meet that requirement, which could rule them out despite their strong ranking.
Despite several teams being in contention, FIFA have not yet selected a replacement for Club Leon in the FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, the organization has not confirmed the criteria it will use to make that decision. As a result, all potential candidates remain eligible for selection. In its official statement, FIFA noted that the final decision will be announced in the coming days.