FIFA Plans Playoff for Club World Cup Spot

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced plans for a playoff between Los Angeles FC and Club America for a spot in the Club World Cup, following Club Leon's removal from the tournament due to multi-club ownership rules. Club Leon has appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has registered their case. Infantino stated that a definitive decision from CAS is expected in a few weeks, and FIFA will respect that ruling. If the appeal fails, a playoff match will be organized between LAFC, who lost the CONCACAF Champions League final, and Club America, the next highest-ranked team. Additionally, FIFA has revealed that a substantial prize pool of $1 billion will be available for the expanded 32-team competition. This development has significant implications for the participating teams and the tournament's overall competitiveness.