FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the organization is considering a playoff between Los Angeles FC and Club América to determine a place in the upcoming Club World Cup, following Club León’s removal from the tournament.
León were excluded from the competition—scheduled to run from June 14 to July 13—due to FIFA's multi-club ownership regulations. However, the Mexican club has appealed the decision, with the case now in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“A final and definitive decision will come in the next couple of weeks, and we will respect whatever CAS rules,” Infantino said during a press conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday.
He added, “If CAS upholds the Appeals Committee’s decision, FIFA intends to organize a playoff between the Concacaf Champions League runners-up, LAFC, and the next team in the ranking, which is Club América.”
The upcoming Club World Cup will feature 32 teams and a reported $1 billion in prize money, marking a major expansion of the tournament.