Brazilian Flamengo continue to enjoy the culmination of an extraordinary season. Fresh from domestic and continental glory – winning the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores with a win over Palmeiras – the club from Rio will take their momentum to Qatar for the 2025 FIFA Confederate Cup.

The tournament was created following the expansion of the Club World Cup to reflect the format of the pre-expansion version of the competition, bringing together the reigning continental champions from various football associations. The goal is simple: to win the annual world championship through straight knockout football, where form and sharpness are as important as pedigree.

Flamenco: Late to the party, but going strong

Flamengo’s participation in the Intercontinental Cup was not confirmed until November 29, after the 2025 Copa Libertadores final, but any concerns about preparations were quickly proven to be unfounded. On December 10, they played their first match against CONCACAF Champions League champion Cruz Azul, who represented Mexico’s Liga MX.

The game was evenly matched for long periods of time, but Flamengo’s experience and composure in crucial moments came through. Uruguayan playmaker Giorgio de Alacaeta scored twice to deny Blue Cross’ Jorge Sanchez’s goal, helping Flamengo win 2-1. De Arrascaeta, 31, remains one of the most valuable and influential players in South American football and has been a central figure for Flamengo since 2019.

Cruz Azul showed quality but ultimately succumbed to nerves and missed his chance. The harsh format meant there was no room for error – Mexico exited immediately, spending more time on the plane than on the pitch, much to the dismay of their away supporters.

Flamengo’s win over Pyramids sets the stage for clash with Paris Saint-Germain

Flamengo returned to action on December 13 in the semi-finals against CAF champions Pyramid FC of Egypt, a relatively new club backed by Saudi Arabia. While Pyramid impressed in earlier games, beating Oakland City and AFC Champions Al Ahly, they struggled to upset Flamengo’s veteran core.

Brazil controlled the tempo and didn’t need to overextend themselves. Léo Pereira opened the scoring in the first half and Danilo added another in the 52nd minute to help the team achieve a 2-0 professional victory. It wasn’t Flamengo’s flashiest performance, but it was a mature performance that highlighted their depth and tactical discipline.

This Flamengo team is no stranger to elite opposition. They beat eventual Club World Cup winners Chelsea earlier this year before losing 4-2 to Bayern Munich in the last 16. Now they get another chance at European royalty in a high-profile match against Paris Saint-Germain on December 17, a game Flamengo will go into with credible belief and competitive odds.

Paris Saint-Germain can’t take anything for granted

PSG have learned this year that the Brazilian champions are not to be underestimated. They unexpectedly lost to Botafogo in the Club World Cup in June. This game provided Flamengo with a clear tactical blueprint. Although PSG rebounded to reach the final, they ultimately fell short again, losing to Chelsea.

Domestically, PSG remain dominant. They are at the top of Ligue 1 with a record of 11 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, narrowly leading the second place by two points. In the Champions League, their record is 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, with the only loss being to Bayern Munich in the group stage.

On paper, PSG will be the favourite. But recent history has made one thing increasingly clear: Brazil’s top clubs can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best and come out victorious. Flamengo are confident, battle-hardened and devoid of expectations – a combination that makes this Intercontinental Cup final more than just a formality.

If momentum is important, PSG will face a team that believes there is another trophy to win this season.

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