Club Leon disqualified from FIFA Club World Cup

Club Leon has been removed from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup due to failing to meet ownership rules. This leaves a vacancy in the tournament, which is set to feature 32 teams. Club Leon was originally included after winning the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup. Several teams are being considered as potential replacements. LAFC, who lost to Club Leon in the cup final, could be a strong candidate. They would bring star players like Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud to the tournament. However, past practices suggest FIFA might not select them. Another contender could be Club America, who recently won the Liga MX title and are ranked at the top of Concacaf. Alternatively, FIFA might look at the winner of the ongoing 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, which is nearing its final stages. Alajuelense, a Costa Rican team, has also expressed interest in stepping in. They previously lost to LAFC in the cup but argue they have a right to participate. However, their low ranking in Concacaf complicates their chances. There's also speculation about including Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia, particularly because of Cristiano Ronaldo's presence on the team. FIFA may be inclined to choose them for commercial reasons, despite their lack of recent victories. Some humorous suggestions for alternatives include entertaining ideas like a team of U.S. soccer heroes or even Wrexham, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney involved. However, it remains unclear what direction FIFA will ultimately take. The organization is known for its unpredictable decisions, particularly when financial interests are at stake.