Miami (AFP) – FIFA has confirmed that the playoff for a place in next month’s Club World Cup, between Los Angeles FC and Mexico’s Club America, will be held on May 31. The game will be played at BMO Field, the home of LAFC, with kickoff at 19:30 local time and comes after Mexican club Leon were barred from the tournament, which starts on June 14.
The decision to stage a playoff game was announced after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed appeals against the FIFA decision from Leon, CF Pachuca, and Costa Rica’s Alajuelense. FIFA ousted Leon because the club is owned by Grupo Pachuca, which also controls Liga MX side Pachuca, who are also taking part in the tournament.
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LAFC advanced to the playoff on the basis of finishing as runners-up to Leon in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. America were chosen as their replacements due to their status as the “top-ranked team” in confederation rankings.
The winner of the playoff will line up in Group D of the Club World Cup, where they will face Premier League side Chelsea, Brazil’s Flamengo, and Esperance Tunis of Tunisia. The final of the tournament will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
© 2024 AFP
