The Appeal Committee’s detailed investigation, which included a 55-page report, concluded that Grupo Pachuca maintained influence over both clubs and that proposed measures, such as the establishment of a trust to manage León’s operations independently, were insufficient to satisfy FIFA’s standards of operational independence. Grupo Pachuca challenged FIFA’s decision by filing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), maintaining that both León and Pachuca operated with full administrative independence. During FIFA’s earlier internal appeal proceedings, Grupo Pachuca had also urged FIFA to adopt a more flexible approach in line with UEFA, which permits the use of ownership trusts under certain conditions to manage conflicts arising from multi-club ownership.

CAS heard consolidated appeals from Club León, Pachuca, and a separate appeal by Costa Rican club Alajuelense, who had petitioned to replace León in the tournament. On 6 May, CAS upheld FIFA’s decision, ruling that the measures taken by Grupo Pachuca did not sufficiently eliminate its influence over León, thereby breaching Article 10(1) of the Club World Cup regulations. The panel rejected arguments that the establishment of a trust could resolve the ownership conflict, determining that the proposed structure failed to deliver the level of independence and control separation required under the regulations. CAS also dismissed Alajuelense’s appeal, which sought the removal of both León and Pachuca and the Costa Rican club’s own admission into the competition.

The decision to expel Club León did not go unchallenged on the pitch. James Rodríguez, the former Real Madrid and Everton midfielder who had joined León earlier in 2025, publicly condemned FIFA’s decision, labelling it a “grave injustice.” His frustration was shared by teammate Eduardo Berizzo, who criticised the outcome as fundamentally unfair. “We won the right on the field, and now FIFA wants to take it away,” Berizzo stated, highlighting the players’ sense of disappointment after earning their qualification through sporting merit. Following CAS’s ruling, FIFA proceeded with plans to fill León’s vacated position. LAFC, as runners-up in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup, were brought back into consideration, while Club América, the top-ranked CONCACAF side not already qualified, were invited to contest a play-off for the final tournament position.

Beyond sporting implications, the financial stakes were significant, with FIFA confirming that each CONCACAF participant would receive a participation fee of $9.55 million. The outcome of the León case reaffirmed FIFA’s strict stance on multi-club ownership within its competitions, echoing the long-standing regulations enforced by UEFA. Despite Grupo Pachuca’s claims of operational independence and their expressed intention to sell León, FIFA and CAS maintained that competitive integrity required complete and timely compliance with ownership rules, leaving León’s hard-earned qualification nullified in the process.

Lessons Learned and Future Considerations

The Club León case has re-affirmed FIFA’s zero-tolerance approach to multi-club ownership conflicts within its global competitions. For ownership groups, it is a clear warning that operational independence measures, even if acceptable domestically, must align with FIFA’s stricter regulatory framework to ensure eligibility on the international stage. Grupo Pachuca’s disqualification serves as a reminder that domestic compliance does not guarantee a place in FIFA tournaments. The need for early resolution of ownership conflicts is now more urgent, especially with FIFA tournaments offering substantial financial rewards and global visibility. For FIFA, the case highlights the need to strengthen its pre-tournament vetting processes and provide clearer guidance to ownership groups navigating the evolving landscape of multi-club networks.