Flamengo announced, this Saturday (6), the list of 26 players listed for the 2025 Copa Intercontinental, a tournament played in Doha, at Catar. The decision takes place under the command of coach Filipe Luís, who prioritized the balance between experience and physical recovery of the squad after the title of Brasileirão and Libertadores.
The red-black team’s debut takes place on Wednesday (10), at 2pm (Brasília time), against Cruz Azul, from México, for Dérbi from Américas, at Estádio Ahmad Bin Ali. The objective is to advance to face Pyramids, from Egito, in the semi-final of Copa Challenger, with the final scheduled for December 17th against PSG.
Pedro, the team’s top scorer this season, is part of the team despite recent injuries to his thigh and forearm, while full-back Matías Viña and midfielder Allan were left out due to a technical option and limited vacancies.
- Alex Sandro, Ayrton Lucas, B. Jorginho, Juninho, L. Wallace Yan.
This selection reflects the Filipe Luís strategy for the tournament, which replaces the traditional format of Mundial and Clubes and brings together continental champions in knockout matches.
Intense preparation before the trip to Catar
The red and black delegation embarks this afternoon on a chartered executive plane, with arrival scheduled for early Sunday afternoon at Doha. The trip lasts around 15 hours, and the group includes more than 100 people, including athletes, coaching staff and staff.
Trainings are scheduled for Sunday night, in addition to Monday and Tuesday afternoons, at Aspire Zone, the training center used by Croácia in Copa of Mundo in 2022.
The initial focus is on adapting to the time difference and desert climate, with light sessions to preserve physical condition after the marathon of national games.
Players highlighted in the list published
De Arrascaeta leads the midfield with 12 assists in Libertadores, while De La Cruz brings speed and vision of the game with 8 goals this season. Pedro, despite being injured, travels for final assessments and possible selection in advanced stages.
Alex Sandro and Ayrton Lucas form the experienced full-back duo, with B. Henrique anchoring the defense alongside Léo Pereira and L. Michael returns after a period of absence, adding depth to the attack.
Everton and Plata offer speed options on the wings, with Erick and Jorginho guaranteeing rotation in the creative sector.
This composition balances veterans like Rossi and Dyogo Alves with promising youngsters like Wallace Yan and Matheus Cunha.
Absences and technical options explained
Filipe Luís chose to exclude Viña due to the excess of left-backs in the list, prioritizing the limit of 26 places imposed by FIFA. Allan, in turn, faces accumulated wear and tear and will be saved for planning for 2026.
The choice reflects recent performance analyses, with internal data indicating that the current group maintains an 85% success rate in decisive games.
Everton Araujo and Saúl gain space as versatile reserves, capable of playing in multiple positions.
G. Varela and S. Lino complete the offensive sector with contributions from set pieces, registering 5 headed goals this season.
Tactical strategy for Dérbi of Américas
The initial confrontation against Cruz Azul requires high marking, considering the Mexican style of ball possession, with an average of 58% in international games. Filipe Luís plans a flexible 4-2-3-1, with Carrascal as the transition pivot.
Defensively, the team is betting on the solidity of L. Ortiz, who led interceptions with 4.2 per game in Brasileirão. In attack, the combination of Plata and De Arrascaeta aims to exploit quick counterattacks.
Preparation includes scenario simulations, with an emphasis on quick transitions to neutralize the opponent’s initial pressure.
FIFA data shows that South American teams win 62% of Dérbis of Américas in global tournaments, favoring the red and black history.
Travel and logistics in the red-black focus
Chartering the 100% executive plane aims to reduce jet lag, with individual cabins and relaxation areas for athletes. Arrival at Doha allows gradual acclimatization, with hydration tests adapted to local heat of up to 28°C.
The coaching staff coordinates personalized meals, incorporating supplements to maintain energy during the tournament.
Logistical support includes partnership with Hapvida for real-time medical check-ups.
This structure ensures that the squad arrives 95% recovered, according to internal conditioning metrics.
Complete cast and defined roles
The list of 26 athletes covers all positions, with depth for rotations in case of extensions. Goleiros: Rossi and Dyogo Alves lead, focusing on penalty saves, a critical area in 40% of Intercontinental’s decisions.
Defenders like E. Royal and L. Araujo reinforce the right flanks, while Juninho and
In between, Danilo and Erick anchor the volatility, with Everton and Saúl as intensity options.
Attackers Pedro, Michael and
This distribution allows for tactical adjustments without loss of quality, in line with Filipe Luís’s philosophy of collective versatility.
Expectations for advanced stages
If they advance, Flamengo will face Pyramids on December 13th, an Egyptian team with a solid defense, but vulnerable to aerial balls, a strong area for the red and black team with 15 such goals in the season. The final against PSG on December 17th tests the group against the current European champions, with a history of 3 world titles.
The tournament awards US$50 million in prizes, with the champion receiving US$20 million, encouraging maximum effort.
Filipe Luís emphasizes cohesion, highlighting that the current squad has won 70% in knockout competitions since 2024.
The red and black fans follow via global broadcasts, expanding the reach to millions of international fans.
