Chelsea learn Club World Cup fate after FIFA’s ban is upheld

Chelsea will play either Los Angeles FC or Mexico’s Club America in FIFA’s new Club World Cup this summer.

This was confirmed on Tuesday after Club Leon’s appeal to be included was rejected.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, has ruled that FIFA were correct to exclude Club Leon, who were due to be Chelsea’s first opponents.

They were disqualified because their owners also own another competitor in the competition, fellow Mexican side Pachuca.

In a statement, CAS said: “As a result of the CAS ruling, Fifa is responsible for designating the final qualified team to participate in the Club World Cup 2025,” “The CAS Panel has issued an Operative Decision dismissing the three appeals and ruled that Pachuca and Club Leon failed to meet the criteria in the Regulations for the Fifa World Cup Club 2025 concerning multiple club ownership.

“The Panel examined the evidence, including the Club Leon trust set up by the owners of the club, and concluded that this trust was insufficient to comply with the Regulations. Consequently, Club Leon remains excluded from the competition and Pachuca remains qualified.

“A separate appeal by [Alajuelense] against Club Leon, Pachuca and Fifa, filed on 3 February 2025, requested that Club Leon and Pachuca’s participation in the Club World Cup was contrary to Fifa regulations and that one of the clubs, or both, should be removed.

“The appeal also requested that [Alajuelense] be admitted to the competition in place of a removed team. This case was heard by CAS in person in Madrid on 23 April 2025 and was also rejected today.”

Chelsea learn Club World Cup fate after FIFA’s ban is upheld