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CF Pachuca (MEX), Club América (MEX) and Columbus Crew (USA) continue their bid to be among the 32 teams at the Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25 (FIFA Club World Cup 2025) when the north American trio take to the pitch for their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal second legs this week.
CONCACAF
With CF Monterrey (MEX) and Club León (MEX) already through to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as recent continental champions, both Pachuca and América know that – given the two clubs per country limit, excluding the champions pathway – there is only one route to joining their compatriots in the United States next year and it starts with trying to knock each other out.
The duo head into their Concacaf Champions Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday locked at 1-1 and aware they have to go on to lift the trophy after the final on June 2 to claim a FIFA Club World Cup 2025 place.
The same goes for Columbus Crew, who meet 2021 champions Monterrey on Wednesday in the other semi-final second leg. The Crew lead 2-1 after the first leg in the US, but need to become Concacaf champions this season to join 2022 continental title-winners and fellow MLS franchise Seattle Sounders (USA) at the tournament next year.
If Monterrey lift the trophy again, then another MLS side, Philadelphia Union (USA), would be the beneficiary and qualify via the rankings pathway.
AFC
There is a winner-takes-all AFC Champions League final in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after Al Ain FC (UAE) and Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) won their semi-final ties.
In addition to being crowned Asian champions, the victor of the two-legged final (1st leg May 11, return on May 25) will claim the one remaining place available to AFC teams at the tournament.
They will join former champions Al Hilal (KSA) and Urawa Reds (JPN), as well as the one team qualifying via the rankings pathway, Ulsan HD FC (KOR), in the tournament in the US next year.
