Flamengo faces Cruz Azul this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 2pm (Brasília time), in a match valid for the second phase of Copa Intercontinental. The duel, which takes place at Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, at Al Rayyan, 20 km from Doha, at Qatar, is known as Concacaf. Rubro-Negro seeks to advance to the semifinals and win the match’s specific trophy, with Fifa valuing the tournament by awarding medals at all stages, raising the status of this continental clash. The live broadcast of the game will be carried out by Globo and Sportv, with detailed coverage in real time.
The likely lineups for the clash are:
This clash is crucial for both teams, who seek to consolidate their position on the international stage. The tournament, revamped by Fifa, provides an important platform for clubs aiming for the expanded Mundial of Clubes.
Preparation of teams for the duel
Flamengo, after securing the early title from Brasileirão, chose to spare its starters in the last round against Mirassol, on December 6, and bring forward its trip to Qatar, arriving in the country on Sunday. Sob commanded by Filipe Luís, the team held four training sessions at the location, focusing on adapting to the heat and time difference, with the full squad available, except for striker Pedro, who is recovering from injury.
This strategic approach contrasts with that of Cruz Azul, who faced considerable physical exhaustion after being eliminated in the Mexican Apertura semifinal against Tigres on December 7. The Mexican team also had an exhausting trip with two stops, disembarking in Doha less than 48 hours before the match, which could impact performance on the field.
Strategies and tactics on the field
Nicolás Larcamón, coach of Cruz Azul, should adopt a formation with three defenders, seeking to balance the defense and explore quick counterattacks. The speed of Sepúlveda and
Filipe Luís, in turn, plans a dominant possession strategy for Flamengo, with Arrascaeta and Carrascal dictating the pace in midfield. Samuel Lino and Bruno Henrique will have the function of opening spaces at the ends, exploring depth. The main doubt in the red-black lineup lies in the defense, between Léo Ortiz and Danilo, with the priority being defensive solidity on a neutral field. Flamengo’s history in intercontinental competitions includes semi-finals in 2022 and a final in 2019, but without the trophy, which intensifies the motivation for this edition.
Tournament history and format
The Flamengo and Cruz Azul teams have never officially faced each other in competitions, but the Derby of the Américas symbolizes the rivalry between the South American (Conmebol) and North American (Concacaf) confederations. Cruz Azul has a mixed record against Brazilian teams, with some wins in friendly matches, but defeats in important tournaments, like the old Intercontinental from 1970, when they lost to Fluminense.
The 2025 Copa Intercontinental serves as a stepping stone to the expanded Mundial of Clubes, which will be held in 2029. The winner of this match will advance to a semi-final against Pyramids FC of The Fifa revamped the tournament format to include more knockout duels, with the Qatar chosen as the sole venue to ensure the neutrality and logistics of the competition.
The Flamengo, two-time champions of the Libertadores in 2022 and 2025, arrive at the tournament with 72 points in the Campeonato Brasileiro, while the Cruz Azul finished the Mexican Apertura with 32 points, in third place.
List and absences of the Mexican team
Gabriel Fernández is a key part of the Cruz Azul attack, demonstrating consistency by scoring in five of the last seven games, including the draw against The central defense duo is made up of Willer Ditta and Gonzalo Piovi, both with experience in international duels, including for their respective national teams.
The only confirmed absence for the Mexican team is Jesús Orozco, who has been in the medical department since November with a muscle injury. Essa absence forces adjustments in the line of three defenders. On the left-back, Rotondi and Campos compete for the spot, prioritizing defensive coverage against attacks from players like Samuel Lino. Jeremy Márquez, in midfield, has eight assists in the Liga MX, being essential for the connection between defense and attack in pressure situations.
Red-Negro’s logistical advantage in Qatar
The early arrival at Qatar provided Flamengo with gradual acclimatization, with morning training at Nipo-Brasileiro adapted to the dry climate of Doha, where afternoon temperatures hover around 25°C. The group reconnoitred the Estádio Ahmad bin Ali pitch on Tuesday, taking the opportunity to identify strategic points for rehearsed plays.
Filipe Luís highlighted the importance of squad rotation, with Allan and Bruno Henrique, who scored 11 goals in Libertadores, has been training as a lone offensive reference in the absence of Pedro, proving to be a reliable option for the attack. The red and black squad, reinforced by signings such as Alex Sandro, ex-Juventus, is looking for its first interclub title since 1981.
Arbitration details and rules
The duel between Flamengo and Cruz Azul will be refereed by the Italian Daniele Orsato, an experienced professional who has already played in Champions League finals. Ele will be assisted by an Italian VAR team, ensuring accurate decisions during the match. The Fifa imposed specific rules for the tournament, such as a minimum effective time of 60 minutes per game, aiming for greater fluidity and dynamism in a compact format competition.
The Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, with a capacity for 45 thousand spectators, should receive a mixed audience of Brazilian and Mexican fans, as tickets were sold out on the Fifa platform. The prize for the winner of the match is US$5 million, in addition to the coveted Derby of the Américas cup. In the event of a draw in normal time, there will be a 30-minute extra time, followed by a penalty shootout, if necessary, according to the regulations published in November.
Projections for the competition sequence
The winner of the clash between Flamengo and Cruz Azul will face Pyramids in the next phase, paving the way for possible finals against European or Asian representatives. Flamengo, which had an average of 65% ball possession in the Libertadores games, relies on its territorial dominance to neutralize Mexican counterattacks and dictate the pace of the match.
Despite accumulated fatigue, Cruz Azul demonstrated resilience on long trips, winning 70% of their away games at Liga MX. Gabriel Fernández expressed optimism at a press conference, citing Concachampions’s achievement as a motivational basis for the team’s performance. The match marks Filipe Luís’s debut in global competitions as a coach, after a successful career as a player at clubs such as Chelsea and Atlético de Madrid.