LAFC and Club América set for battle over final spot in FIFA Club World Cup

The final berth in the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be decided in a high-stakes showdown at BMO Stadium in California on Saturday, May 31, as Los Angeles FC hosts Mexican giants Club América in a play-in match sanctioned by FIFA.

The fixture, which pits two Concacaf powerhouses against one another, comes after a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA’s disqualification of Club León due to multi-club ownership regulations.

FIFA subsequently ruled that the final qualification place would be awarded via a one-off match between LAFC, the runners-up of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League, and Club América, the highest-ranked Concacaf team at the close of the 2024 Champions Cup cycle.

Should the match be tied after regulation, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.

The victorious club will secure the final slot in Group D of the Club World Cup, joining Brazilian champions CR Flamengo, Tunisian stalwarts Espérance de Tunis, and Premier League side Chelsea FC.

Veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who joined LAFC in 2024 following a decorated career in Europe, emphasized the importance of the moment for the club and its supporters.

“When I signed for LAFC, I didn’t expect to have these types of opportunities,” said Lloris. “It’s a golden chance for the players, the club, and the fans to be part of a groundbreaking competition.”

Lloris was joined in his optimism by fellow French international Olivier Giroud, who also hailed the match as a defining moment for the club. LAFC previously edged Club América 2-1 in a pre-season encounter this February, but the stakes will be significantly higher this weekend.

“This is a final,” Lloris added. “It’s a massive game against one of the biggest clubs in Mexico. We need to be at our very best.”

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, set to begin on June 14 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, marks the first edition of the tournament to feature 32 clubs from all six continental confederations.

A total of 63 matches will be played across 11 U.S. cities, with the final scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The winner of Saturday’s match will face Chelsea in their Group D opener on June 16, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling start to a new era in global club football.