Chelsea鈥檚 Club World Cup Opponent, Club Le贸n, Disqualified Due to Ownership Conflict
Club Le贸n has been disqualified from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup due to an ownership conflict with fellow Mexican club Pachuca. FIFA regulations prohibit two clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same tournament, leading to Le贸n鈥檚 removal from the competition.
Le贸n had qualified for the tournament after winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup. However, their affiliation with Grupo Pachuca, which also owns Pachuca, violated FIFA鈥檚 club ownership rules. As a result, FIFA has decided to replace Le贸n with another club, though the official replacement has yet to be announced.
This decision directly impacts Chelsea, who were set to face Le贸n in their opening match of the tournament. The London club must now wait for confirmation of their new opponent as FIFA finalizes the replacement.
The Club World Cup, set to take place later this year, will feature top teams from various continents competing for the prestigious title. Chelsea, who won the tournament in 2022, will be aiming to reclaim the trophy.
More updates regarding Le贸n鈥檚 replacement and the tournament schedule are expected in the coming days.