One of the key factors that convinced James Rodriguez to join Mexican side Club Leon was the team’s qualification for the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. However, the Colombian star’s participation in the prestigious international tournament could be at risk, as the club is now facing a crucial deadline set by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Club Leon secured their spot in the Club World Cup after winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup by defeating LAFC. They were subsequently drawn into Group D alongside Chelsea, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Flamengo. However, a legal challenge from Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense could threaten their participation.
Alajuelense has raised concerns over the involvement of two teams from Grupo Pachuca — CF Pachuca and Club Leon — alleging that both clubs fall under the definition of “multi-ownership.”
This violates FIFA’s regulations, which prohibit two clubs owned by the same entity from competing in the same competition. Despite filing a complaint with FIFA in November, the governing body failed to respond, prompting Alajuelense to escalate the matter to the CAS.
The CAS has now set a deadline for FIFA, Club Leon, and Pachuca (Grupo Pachuca) to present their arguments and evidence by April 2, just over two months before the tournament kicks off on June 14. The clubs will need to prove that their participation in the tournament is valid, dispelling the claims of multi-ownership in order to secure their places in the competition.
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Possible outcomes for the case
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense’s claim stems from their victory in the 2023 Central American Cup, which earned them the right to participate in the Club World Cup. In a conversation with ESPN, Leon Weinstock, a member of Alajuelense’s Board of Directors and the club’s lawyer, outlined the potential outcome they are hoping for:
“We told the CAS in our request that the correct approach would be to compensate our club with an amount equivalent to the damages and losses suffered by not being able to participate. How would this be calculated? Well, with the World Cup prize, player-related issues, marketing, etc,” Weinstock explained.
Weinstock acknowledged that by the time CAS delivers its final ruling, the Club World Cup may already be underway or even completed, potentially rendering Alajuelense’s participation impossible. However, he suggested that financial compensation could still be a possibility, leaving FIFA and their regulations in a precarious position.
