The final berth in the Club World Cup will be settled Saturday night, as LAFC and Club América meet in a playoff at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.

As two of Concacaf's top clubs, it is no real shock to see these sides pushing for a place in the Club World Cup. However, the path to this point was unusual: neither team won a berth in a traditional manner, with LAFC in this position thanks to a game it lost in 2023 while Club América was only nominated to participate in this playoff via club rankings.

A convoluted case of dual club ownership opened the door, with Club León disqualified by FIFA (a decision later upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport). Hence, this one-game playoff, all to earn the right for a place in Group D at an expanded Club World Cup that begins in just two weeks.

Follow along as Pro Soccer Wire provides live updates for the Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club América:

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio blows his whistle, and we're off and running in this Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club América.

LAFC and Club América are playing due to a convoluted series of events that could only happen when you get Concacaf and FIFA together to sort out a new tournament format.

Initially, the last four winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup — Monterrey, the Seattle Sounders, Club León, and Pachuca — were set to take places in the Club World Cup. However, Club León and Pachuca share owners, something FIFA said cannot be permitted at the Club World Cup. FIFA eventually decided that León was disqualified, and announced a playoff between LAFC (the team León defeated in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup) and Club América (the top-ranked Concacaf team in FIFA's rankings for Club World Cup purposes).