There is no concrete plan yet regarding timeshare: Alfonso Villalba

Alfonso Villalba , CEO of Grupo Orlegi, recently addressed the issue of multi-ownership in Mexican soccer, amid growing pressure from FIFA to eradicate the practice. Club León's exclusion from the 2025 Club World Cup, due to its membership in the same business group as Pachuca, has intensified the debate over multiple club ownership in Liga MX.

Grupo Orlegi, which owns both Santos Laguna and Atlas in Mexico, as well as Sporting Gijón in Spain, is at the center of this discussion. Villalba acknowledged that, although there is currently no specific FIFA directive mandating the dissolution of the timeshare , they are attentive to possible future implications. "We are in constant conversation, looking for project options and what is best for Mexican soccer. Of course, when the time comes, we will look for what is best in that regard," Villalba stated.

The executive emphasized that, for the moment, no decisions have been made regarding the sale of any of his clubs , but underscored Orlegi's commitment to the development of soccer in Mexico. "We will work and carefully monitor what comes next, but the only thing we have today, and what I can confirm, is our commitment and our commitment," he added.

The timeshare situation in Liga MX has been the subject of criticism, especially after FIFA took action against Club León. Currently, four business groups control eight teams in Mexican soccer : Grupo Pachuca (León and Tuzos), Grupo Orlegi (Santos and Atlas), TV Azteca (Mazatlán and Puebla), and Grupo Caliente (Tijuana and Querétaro). Although the owners have promised to sell one of the clubs they control, no transaction has yet been finalized.

FIFA has been clear in its stance against timeshares , stating that "no person or legal entity may control or exercise influence over more than one club participating in the competition," according to the Club World Cup regulations. This situation poses significant challenges for groups like Orlegi, which will need to evaluate their ownership structures and consider possible changes to align with international regulations.