Soccer-LAFC and Club America to contest Club World Cup playoff on May 31
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - April 20, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Trophy before the match REUTERS/Teresa. Kroeger/File Photo
(Reuters) -Los Angeles FC and Club America will play their Club World Cup qualifying playoff match on May 31 at the BMO Stadium, home of LAFC, for a place in the group stage of the 32-team tournament, world soccer's governing body FIFA announced on Friday.
The playoff is being held to decide the 32nd team after Club Leon were kicked out of the tournament due to an ownership rule breach. The Mexican club also had their appeal rejected at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA said in March that Club Leon and Pachuca did not meet regulations on multi-club ownership. However, Pachuca's spot in the June 14-July 13 tournament was unaffected.
LAFC were runners-up to Club Leon in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League while Club America were the top-ranked team in the Club World Cup confederation ranking at the end of the Champions Cup staged in 2024.
The winner of the playoff will go into Group D alongside Brazil's Flamengo, Tunisian club Esperance de Tunis and Premier League side Chelsea.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in BengaluruEditing by Toby Davis)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Mbappe out of second Real Madrid Club World Cup clash
PALM BEACH GARDENS, UNITED STATES: Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe did not travel to Charlotte for the team's Club World Cup match against Pachuca, but could be back for the final group stage game, coach Xabi Alonso said on Saturday. The French superstar was taken to hospital on Thursday for tests and treatment after suffering gastroenteritis, before later being released. Mbappe is improving "bit by bit" a club source told AFP, but he did not fly with his team-mates for Sunday's match against Mexican side Pachuca. Real coach Xabi Alonso addressed the striker's condition during his pre-match press conference. "He's doing better, he's back from the hospital and is recovering. We're optimistic about having him against Salzburg," he said. Madrid face Salzburg in the final game of Group H on Thursday in Philadelphia. The 26-year-old missed the opening game with the same illness as Madrid were held 1-1 by Al-Hilal in Xabi Alonso's debut as coach. Madrid B-team player Gonzalo Garcia, 21, started in Mbappe's stead and opened the scoring for Real Madrid against their Saudi Arabian opponents. Alonso indicated that Gonzalo would again deputise for the Frenchman. "Gonzalo can do what he did the other day. He scored a goal and had three chances. Looking ahead, we'll see what happens. Having players with that sense of smell is very important. He did very well," he said. Mbappe finished as the European Golden Shoe winner in his first season at Real Madrid with 31 goals in La Liga and 43 across all competitions, but Los Blancos finished the season without a major trophy.
New Straits Times
42 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Tudor dismisses end-of-season fatigue narrative, Juventus primed for Club World Cup challenge
PHILADELPHIA: Juventus manager Igor Tudor played down suggestions that his team are showing signs of end-of-season fatigue, insisting his players are motivated and ready to compete as they prepare to face Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in the Club World Cup on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Juventus opened their campaign with an emphatic 5-0 victory over UAE's Al Ain, and a win against Wydad would secure their progression to the next stage. Such a result would set up a highly anticipated Group G showdown with Manchester City on Thursday, likely to determine the group winners. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Tudor said he sees no signs of lethargy in his squad. "I don't see any signs of fatigue in the team; on the contrary, I see a lot of enthusiasm," he said. "It's a pleasure to see them enjoying playing together. They started the last match like it was a final. There's more confidence in them now, not just a little but a lot more. They're enjoying what we're building together, and that's a fantastic thing." Tudor, who took over in March following the dismissal of Thiago Motta, has overseen a remarkable turnaround at the Turin club. Juventus were floundering outside the Serie A top four and had been eliminated from all cup competitions when Tudor arrived. However, under his guidance, the team suffered just one further league defeat, finishing fourth to secure Champions League qualification. Reflecting on his tenure thus far, Tudor expressed pride in his players' professionalism and commitment. "I have great professionals who've been available from the first day to the last," he said. "There's been a lot of work behind the scenes, but we've also developed a better understanding of the game and what I ask of them as a coach." Despite the strong start in the Club World Cup, Tudor urged his squad to remain focused. "Juventus should be ambitious, but we must stay humble and work hard with our heads down," he said. "I always tell the players to focus on training and take each match as it comes. Maybe I bore them by saying it, but that's the mindset we need." Juventus' clash with Wydad Casablanca will be a key test of their progress under Tudor, with the Italian side looking to maintain momentum ahead of the knockout stages of the tournament.
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Flamengo, Bayern in last 16
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Boca Juniors' Argentine goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin clears the danger from a Bayern attack in a Group C match at the Hard Rock stadium in Miami. PHILADELPHIA: Flamengo produced a brilliant second-half fightback to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Club World Cup on Friday and qualify for the last 16, while Bayern Munich joined them in reaching the knockout phase with a battling win over Boca Juniors. In Philadelphia, Pedro Neto gave Chelsea an early lead but Flamengo, roared on by their frenzied supporters who made up the majority of the 54,019 crowd, did not deserve to be behind and came roaring back in the second half. Bruno Henrique came off the bench in the 56th minute and quickly equalised before setting up former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus defender Danilo to make it 2-1. Chelsea were stunned, and their hopes of pulling level again were effectively destroyed when substitute Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the 68th minute for a dangerous tackle on Ayrton Lucas. Wallace Yan then sealed the victory for the Rio de Janeiro club, the Brazilian league leaders, when he made it 3-1 late on. 'It was a special day for me and our club,' said Flamengo coach Filipe Luis. Advertisement 'We knew we would have chances against Chelsea, because we have one way to play and they know how to follow that path.' Flamengo have won both matches in Group D and their place in the knockout stage was confirmed later when Esperance of Tunisia defeated Los Angeles FC 1-0 in Nashville. Youcef Belaili scored the only goal of the game in the 70th minute in front of a sparse crowd featuring Nicole Kidman. LAFC, who were last-minute qualifiers after beating Club America of Mexico in a play-off, cannot now progress further. Chelsea and Esperance each have three points from two games and their meeting in Philadelphia next Tuesday will decide who joins Flamengo in advancing. 'We expected a tough game because Flamengo is a very good team, with good players and a good manager,' said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca. 'They play very well, and in Brazil they are top of the league, unbeaten for many games, so it was not a surprise for us.' Flamengo's win followed Botafogo's stunning success against European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, continuing an impressive record for South American clubs at the competition. But Bayern's 2-1 win over Boca in Miami was the first time either a Brazilian or Argentinian team had lost in 10 matches since the tournament started. England star Harry Kane did not find the target when Bayern hammered New Zealand's Auckland City 10-0 in their opening game, but he opened the scoring in Miami with a clinical finish on 18 minutes. Boca's fans made up most of the 63,587 crowd and brought incredible passion and noise to the Hard Rock Stadium, spurring their team on to equalise in the 66th minute. Alan Velasco found Miguel Merentiel down the right and he powered goalwards, skipping around Josip Stanisic before producing a brilliant finish past Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal. It looked like South American clubs' unbeaten record in the tournament so far was going to hold, but with six minutes remaining Michael Olise provided the decisive blow. After a scramble on the edge of the box, Kane found the France international with a delicate lay-off and Olise provided precision control with a superb finish into the corner to send Bayern through to the next round. 'Big performance from the guys. We knew it wasn't going to be easy, we knew we were coming into a hostile environment,' Kane told DAZN. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
