Wed May 07 05:30:00 UTC 2025: ## LAFC and Club América to Battle for Club World Cup Spot
**Los Angeles, CA –** Los Angeles FC (LAFC) and Club América will clash in a playoff match on May 31st at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles to determine the replacement for Club León in the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup. This comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA’s decision to disqualify Club León due to its shared ownership with fellow Club World Cup participant, Pachuca, violating tournament regulations.
León, winners of the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, had appealed the decision but ultimately lost their case. The CAS ruling stated that both Pachuca and Club León failed to meet the criteria regarding multiple club ownership. Despite the legal battle, Pachuca remains in the tournament.
The winner of the LAFC-América playoff will secure a coveted spot in Group D of the Club World Cup, which kicks off June 14th in the United States, and a significant share of the tournament’s $1 billion prize fund (approximately $10 million). The victorious team will face a challenging group stage, including matches against Chelsea, Esperance, and Flamengo. The playoff match date and location were initially reported by GiveMeSport. FIFA has welcomed the CAS decision and confirmed the playoff arrangement.
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