MLS and Liga MX stunned by last-minute FIFA Club World Cup twist | OneFootball

Los Angeles FC and Club América will compete in a playoff for a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA officially revealed the two teams will compete in a playoff to decide who will take the place of Club León in the tournament that will take place between June 14 and July 13 in the United States. The decision comes after León, the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup champion, was disqualified for not complying with one of the competition's rules: teams with the same owner cannot play in the same year. Club León and CF Pachuca have the same owner, Grupo Pachuca, and CF Pachuca is already qualified as the 2024 champion.

With that, FIFA made space for a new team and decided that LAFC, 2023 runner-up, would face Club América, who enters as the region's highest-ranked team after the conclusion of this year's continental tournament. The champion qualifies directly into Group D, which already features Chelsea, Flamengo, and ES Tunis. The group matches will be hosted in three U.S. cities: Atlanta, Nashville, and Orlando.

A turning point for MLS

MLS already has two teams lined up: Seattle Sounders, the winner of the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup, and Inter Miami, which qualified as a representative of the hosting country. If LAFC wins, three teams from the league will play in the Club World Cup in the same year for the first time. Besides the publicity, there's also an economic incentive. The share in the tournament is guaranteed $9.55 million. If the team wins every match and lifts the trophy, prize money can reach as much as nearly $100 million.

The tournament will feature 32 teams in eight groups of four and play single games. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16. After that, the tournament will continue in single-elimination fashion. The championship will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

MetLife Stadium | Al Bello/GettyImages

How LAFC gets to the game

LAFC has a good team and is well-positioned in the MLS Western Conference. The group's key point of reference is Gabon national team's forward Denis Bouanga. He led the league in scoring in 2023, tallied 20 goals in both of the previous two seasons, and earned a place on the league's Best XI twice consecutively. The club also signed top European players like goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Olivier Giroud, who have both had extensive international experience and enjoyed success with the French national team.

Other notables are Venezuelan winger David Martínez and defender Aaron Long. The team is guided by head coach Steve Cherundolo, who already said he would leave the club at season's end to return to Germany. In spite of his intended exit, he still competes the team as their leader. In 2022, the coach led LAFC to the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield, and 2024 U.S. Open Cup championship.

Hugo Lloris, Denis Bouanga | Harry How/GettyImages

The strength of Club América and its continental heritage

Club América is one of the most successful Mexican clubs, with seven Concacaf Champions Cup titles and 16 Liga MX championships. Under head coach André Jardine, the team has been solid and good. The squad includes key players like goalkeeper Luis Malagón, midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo, fullback Alejandro Zendejas, and forward Víctor Dávila. Zendejas is a familiar name within U.S. soccer, with experience in FC Dallas's academy and for the United States men's national team.

In its last Champions Cup edition, América defeated Columbus Crew and was crowned continental champion. In the current Liga MX Clausura season, the team was second and on track to qualify for the Liguilla playoffs. With a veteran team and international tournament experience, the team is seeking to return to the Club World Cup to continue the dominance Mexican soccer has had in the region since.

Group D schedule confirmed

The winner of the match between LAFC and Club América will have tough assignments from the group stage. On June 16, the first match will be against Chelsea at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. On June 20, the second one will be against ES Tunis at GEODIS Park in Nashville. Lastly, the last group match will be on June 24 against Flamengo at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The matches will be played in MLS venues and will draw massive crowds, since the tournament will be held on American soil and feature top-profile and fan-favorite teams. Additionally, seven of the twelve venues chosen for the tournament are owned by MLS, a testament to the central role played by the United States as host and organizer.

Andre Jardine | Manuel Velasquez/GettyImages

High expectations and pressure on both sides

Both Club América and LAFC have incentive to make this match a high priority. For the American squad, it's a chance to face off against two MLS giants and prove that soccer in America is rich and varied. For América, the motivation is to stay at the top of Mexico and not allow the American league to control the regional scene.

There is also the reward fund, global exposure, and the opportunity to bring value to the team and the brand of the club. Playing in an expanded Club World Cup, against the likes of Chelsea and Flamengo in the group stages, might flip the season on its head and create an enduring legacy on and off the pitch.

The game, not yet announced regarding when and where it will be played, already has buzz generated behind the scenes and among fans. The host location, ticketing information, and broadcast will all be announced soon enough. What is already evident is that LAFC and Club América are set to take the field having much to lose and even more to gain.