Background and Key Players
Club León, a Mexican football club, was set to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. The team’s star player, James Rodríguez, joined León with the promise of competing against top clubs worldwide. However, the Tribunal de Arbitraje Deportivo (TAS) decided to disqualify León due to FIFA’s ownership regulations.
FIFA’s decision stems from the fact that León’s owner, Jesús Martínez Murguía, is the son of Jesús Martínez Patiño, who has owned Tuzos de Pachuca since 1995. The Martínez family acquired León when it was still part of the Liga de Ascenso, about 15 years ago.
James Rodríguez expressed his concerns about the situation, stating, “The interest goes beyond many things; I doubt all these matters, this is strange, and I believe there is a significant interest for another team to be there. Therefore, I think FIFA needs to ‘get its act together’ regarding this.”
FIFA’s Decision and Impact on León
In December 2023, FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed Club León with a message of “Nos vemos pronto” (See you soon). However, on May 6, FIFA’s decision stated that Club León, along with Club de Fútbol Pachuca and Asociación Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, failed to meet the criteria for multiple club ownership as per FIFA Club World Cup Regulations (Article 10.1).
As a result, León was excluded from the tournament, while Pachuca remained qualified. León was set to face Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance in the group stage. Now, if Pachuca requests James Rodríguez on loan, they could face Real Madrid, Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), and Red Bull Salzburg in Group H.
León will not receive the $9.55 million allocated by FIFA to each of the 32 participating clubs (excluding European, Oceanian, and South American teams) simply for taking part in the tournament with the highest number of competitors.
Group Pachuca’s Attempt to Distance Itself from León
Group Pachuca tried to distance itself from Club León by creating an “IRREVOCABLE TRUST” to be managed by external parties from March to July 2025. However, FIFA’s document stated that this trust appears to be a mechanism designed to circumvent the norm, creating an illusion of change while preserving the original structure and control.
Timeline of Events
- June 2023: Club León qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup by winning the Concacaf Champions League final against LAFC.
- October 3, 2024: FIFA published the tournament regulations, explicitly prohibiting multiple club ownership.
- March 21, 2025: FIFA clarified that León could not participate due to violating Article 10 of the competition.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the issue? FIFA’s ownership regulations disqualified Club León from participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.
- Who are the key players involved? Club León, James Rodríguez, Jesús Martínez Murguía (León’s owner), and Jesús Martínez Patiño (Pachuca’s owner).
- What are the consequences for León? León will not receive the participation fee and will not compete in the tournament.
- What is the Group Pachuca’s role? Group Pachuca attempted to distance itself from León by creating an “IRREVOCABLE TRUST,” but this was deemed a mechanism to circumvent FIFA’s regulations.
