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LAFC and Club America will meet in a play-off game for the final spot at the Club World Cup after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Fifa’s decision to expel Club Leon.

Fifa determined in March that Club Leon and fellow Mexican team Pachuca did not meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership.

Because both clubs are owned by Grupo Pachuca, Fifa removed Club Leon from the tournament which is being held in the United States from 15 June to 13 July.

The winner of the one-off play-off tie between Major League Soccer (MLS) side LAFC and Mexican team Club America will earn the vacant spot in Group D, alongside Chelsea, Flamengo and Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

Chelsea will face either LAFC or Club America in their opening fixture of the competition in Atlanta on 16 June.

Cas received separate appeals from Pachuca and Club Leon seeking to annul the decision and declare that the clubs comply with the Club World Cup eligibility requirements.

Club Leon also filed an additional appeal against the decision by the Fifa secretary general, seeking to be reinstated in the competition.

However, Cas upheld Fifa’s original decision and said in a statement that a panel found that Club Leon “failed to meet the criteria in the regulations”.

“The panel examined the evidence, including the Club Leon trust set up by the owners of the club, and concluded that this trust was insufficient to comply with the regulations,” said Cas.

“Consequently, Club Leon remains excluded from the competition and Pachuca remains qualified.”

Cas also dismissed an appeal made by Costa Rican side Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA), who said they should be admitted to the Club World Cup as the next eligible team.

LDA had lifted the 2023 Central American Cup, but Cas said it rejected the appeal “with reasons to follow later” and said Fifa was “responsible for designating the final qualified team to participate”.

LAFC were beaten by Club Leon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final, while Club America are the highest-ranked team behind Club Leon in confederation ranking that did not qualify for the competition.

Declan Rice says Arsenal need “big balls” and “magic moments” if they are to overturn their semi-final deficit against Paris St-Germain and reach the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta’s side face the French champions in Paris on Wednesday (20:00 BST) after losing the first leg 1-0 courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s early strike at Emirates Stadium last week.

Arsenal are attempting to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.

“We need to have big balls and we need to go out there on the biggest stage and show that we’re ready to play at this level,” said Rice.

He added: “It’s a semi-final, it’s 90 minutes away from a final – I think that tells you everything you need to know.

“I think the manager spoke to us – us as a group of players know what we can achieve tomorrow night and it’s a game of football.

“We can go out there and we can achieve something great for this club and that’s what we want to do. We obviously know we’re 1-0 down but we have full belief, full positivity that we’re going to go out there and win tomorrow night.”

Arsenal struggled to contain PSG in the early stages of the first leg but Rice said, after Arteta made changes, he and his team-mates are full of confidence that they can get a result.

“You felt in the first leg there was a lot of movement in midfield. They [PSG] run around so much and create a lot of space for each other,” he said.

“The way they move between the lines was really, really smart. But once we worked out how we could beat them – obviously we missed a few chances, but in terms of how we were driving with the ball, giving our winners one-on-one opportunities, chances started to open up.

“I think tomorrow night we need to do the same.”

Rice has played a big part in Arsenal reaching this stage of the competition.

The England international scored two free-kicks in the 3-0 quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid and received the player of the match award in both ties.

He said manager Arteta speaks regularly to his players about producing in high-pressure situations.

“He always talks about having someone delivering a magic moment,” Rice said.

“I think in that game against Madrid, obviously I was able to produce two free-kicks, which were incredible.

“But tomorrow night, a semi-final is set up for someone else to maybe get that magic moment.

“Hopefully it’s me again, but you’re going to need a moment of magic to win a game, and as a team we’re going to need that.

The Champions League is Arsenal’s last chance to win a trophy this season now that Liverpool have secured the Premier League title.

Arsenal lost to Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend but Arteta says his team have “huge enthusiasm and huge energy” that they can progress to the European final.

“We are a win away from being in the Champions League final and in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, against a great opponent – it doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.

“We are here to make history – we have a big opportunity tomorrow.

“We bring a result [from the first leg] that gives us so much clarity about what we have to do. A lot of learning from the first leg as well and how small the margins are between the two teams.

“The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one. So tomorrow, another opportunity to prove that and the right to be in the final.”

When asked if this game was his biggest since he became Arsenal manager in 2019, Arteta said it is “one of the most beautiful, for sure”.

“I mean, again, one win away from being in the final,” he added.

Declan Rice says Arsenal need “big balls” and “magic moments” if they are to overturn their semi-final deficit against Paris St-Germain and reach the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta’s side face the French champions in Paris on Wednesday (20:00 BST) after losing the first leg 1-0 courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s early strike at Emirates Stadium last week.

Arsenal are attempting to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.

“We need to have big balls and we need to go out there on the biggest stage and show that we’re ready to play at this level,” said Rice.

He added: “It’s a semi-final, it’s 90 minutes away from a final – I think that tells you everything you need to know.

“I think the manager spoke to us – us as a group of players know what we can achieve tomorrow night and it’s a game of football.

“We can go out there and we can achieve something great for this club and that’s what we want to do. We obviously know we’re 1-0 down but we have full belief, full positivity that we’re going to go out there and win tomorrow night.”

Arsenal struggled to contain PSG in the early stages of the first leg but Rice said, after Arteta made changes, he and his team-mates are full of confidence that they can get a result.

“You felt in the first leg there was a lot of movement in midfield. They [PSG] run around so much and create a lot of space for each other,” he said.

“The way they move between the lines was really, really smart. But once we worked out how we could beat them – obviously we missed a few chances, but in terms of how we were driving with the ball, giving our winners one-on-one opportunities, chances started to open up.

“I think tomorrow night we need to do the same.”

Rice has played a big part in Arsenal reaching this stage of the competition.

The England international scored two free-kicks in the 3-0 quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid and received the player of the match award in both ties.

He said manager Arteta speaks regularly to his players about producing in high-pressure situations.

“He always talks about having someone delivering a magic moment,” Rice said.

“I think in that game against Madrid, obviously I was able to produce two free-kicks, which were incredible.

“But tomorrow night, a semi-final is set up for someone else to maybe get that magic moment.

“Hopefully it’s me again, but you’re going to need a moment of magic to win a game, and as a team we’re going to need that.

The Champions League is Arsenal’s last chance to win a trophy this season now that Liverpool have secured the Premier League title.

Arsenal lost to Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend but Arteta says his team have “huge enthusiasm and huge energy” that they can progress to the European final.

“We are a win away from being in the Champions League final and in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, against a great opponent – it doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.

“We are here to make history – we have a big opportunity tomorrow.

“We bring a result [from the first leg] that gives us so much clarity about what we have to do. A lot of learning from the first leg as well and how small the margins are between the two teams.

“The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one. So tomorrow, another opportunity to prove that and the right to be in the final.”

When asked if this game was his biggest since he became Arsenal manager in 2019, Arteta said it is “one of the most beautiful, for sure”.

“I mean, again, one win away from being in the final,” he added.

Darrell Clarke has been re-appointed as Rovers of Bristol’ manager following their relegation to League Two.

Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of a disappointing season that ended with a 4-1 defeat at Blackpool, Rovers fired head coach Inigo Calderon on Sunday.

Between 2014 and 2018, Clarke, 47, served as manager of Rovers for four years, including the first time he brought them back into the Football League and the promotion to League One.

How special it is to return to Rovers of Bristol is beyond words, Clarke said. “I’m beyond pleased to be back at this exceptional club.”

The potential of this club is still very high, despite the fact that the season that just ended was undoubtedly difficult, and I had no hesitation when I had the chance to return.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work in the off-season, getting ready for the new campaign, and leaving The Mem in front of the brilliant, passionate Gasheads once more.”

We will need each and every one of them in the upcoming season, and I want to give them a team they can support and perform with pride.

Clarke eventually held positions at Walsall, Port Vale, Cheltenham, and most recently Barnsley, which he left in March.

In addition, he won promotion from League Two while he was at Vale through his 2022 play-off victory over Mansfield.

Ricky Martin, the director of football, expressed his delight at welcoming Darrell back to Rovers of Bristol.

Darrell Clarke has been re-appointed as Rovers of Bristol’ manager following their relegation to League Two.

Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of a disappointing season that ended with a 4-1 defeat at Blackpool, Rovers fired head coach Inigo Calderon on Sunday.

Between 2014 and 2018, Clarke, 47, served as manager of Rovers for four years, including the first time he brought them back into the English Football League (EFL), and then he was credited with regaining their promotion to League One.

How special it is to return to Rovers of Bristol is beyond words, Clarke said. “I’m beyond pleased to be back at this exceptional club.”

The potential of this club is still very high, despite the fact that the season that just ended was undoubtedly difficult, and I had no hesitation when I had the chance to return.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work in the off-season, getting ready for the new campaign, and leaving The Mem in front of the brilliant, passionate Gasheads once more.”

We will need each and every one of them in the upcoming season, and I want to give them a team they can support and perform with pride.

Clarke eventually held positions at Walsall, Port Vale, Cheltenham, and most recently Barnsley, which he left in March.

In addition, he won promotion from League Two while he was at Vale through his 2022 play-off victory over Mansfield.

Ricky Martin, the director of football, expressed his delight at welcoming Darrell back to Rovers of Bristol.