The Race To Qatar: Inside the 2025 Intercontinental Cup
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is a yearly showdown to decide the best club side on the planet. After the old seven-team Club World Cup was turned into a 32-team tournament that will run every four years from 2025, FIFA still wanted an annual stage where each continent’s champions could face off. So in 2024, they launched the Intercontinental Cup – a six-team, knock-out competition bringing together the champions of Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
The first edition in 2024, played across the UAE and Qatar, ended with Real Madrid sweeping past Pachuca 3–0 in Lusail thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior, confirming that Europe’s champions still set the global standard.
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How the 2025 Intercontinental Cup works
The 2025 edition keeps the same basic format: six continental champions in a single-elimination bracket, with a couple of twists and extra mini-trophies along the way.
The six champions involved are:
- Europe (UEFA) – Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the 2024–25 Champions League.
- South America (CONMEBOL) – Flamengo, fresh from winning the 2025 Copa Libertadores with a 1–0 victory over Palmeiras in Lima.
- North & Central America (CONCACAF) – Cruz Azul, 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners.
- Africa (CAF) – Pyramids FC, who claimed their first CAF Champions League title earlier this year.
- Asia (AFC) – Al Ahli FC.
- Oceania (OFC) – Auckland City FC.
Because UEFA’s champion is considered the top seed, PSG are placed directly into the final, which will be played on 17 December at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
The other five confederations fight it out through three stages:
- African–Asian–Pacific Cup (First Round)
- Pyramids beat Auckland City 3–0 to advance.
- Second Round – “Derby of the Americas”
- Cruz Azul (CONCACAF champions) vs Flamengo (CONMEBOL champions).
- Winner earns the Derby of the Americas trophy and a place in the Challenger Cup.
- Challenger Cup (Play-off / Semi-final)
- Pyramids vs winner of Cruz Azul v Flamengo on 13 December.
- Winner becomes Challenger Cup champion and advances to the final vs PSG.
So the path is simple: Cruz Azul or Flamengo must win twice in four days (Derby of the Americas, then Challenger Cup) to earn a date with PSG in the global final.
Cruz Azul vs Flamengo – Derby of the Americas
Date: 10 December 2025
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar
This is the game that properly kicks the tournament into life: Mexican giants Cruz Azul against Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo – two clubs with huge fanbases and a history of drama on big nights.
Cruz Azul: Chasing global respect
Cruz Azul come in as CONCACAF champions and representatives of Mexican football on a world stage where Liga MX clubs always feel they have something to prove. They’ve already gone through a long continental run; now they finally get a shot at South America’s best in a neutral stadium. For Cruz Azul, this isn’t just about a trophy:
- It’s a chance to show that CONCACAF’s champions belong in this conversation with the traditional powers from Europe and South America.
- It’s a rare opportunity for their players to make a global impression in front of fans who usually only see them in clips or Club World Cup highlights.
Expect a lot of emotion from the Mexican end – flags, drums, and a feeling that they’re carrying the whole region with them.
Flamengo: Libertadores kings on tour again
Flamengo arrive as fresh double winners with the Copa Libertadores and the Brasileirao , which already tells you plenty. Their run through South America has been built on big atmospheres, big personalities and with Flamengo being famous for always playing in big games.
A few things to know:
- Flamengo fans travel – there will be red-and-black shirts and banners all over Doha.
- They’re used to one-off finals after years of continental showpieces.
- There’s always a feeling with Flamengo that something dramatic can happen: late goals, comebacks, wild celebrations.
Why this game matters so much
The Derby of the Americas isn’t just a fancy name. The winner gets:
- A trophy of its own
- A place in the Challenger Cup against Pyramids FC
- The chance to keep dreaming of a final against PSG
For Cruz Azul, beating Flamengo would be a statement that echoes across the Americas. For Flamengo, losing here – after winning South America – would feel like a huge missed step on what they see as a path to a world title.
No deep tactics needed: this one is about who handles the occasion, whose stars shine, and who keeps their nerve when the stadium noise really hits.
What Comes Next in the Tournament?
Pyramids FC waiting in the Challenger Cup
Standing between the Derby winner and PSG are Pyramids FC, who have quietly put together a dream year:
- First-ever CAF Champions League title
- African Super Cup win thanks to a decisive Mayele goal
- Two wins from two in the Intercontinental Cup (3–0 vs Auckland City, 3–1 vs Al Ahli) to take the African–Asian–Pacific Cup.
They arrive in Qatar already match-sharp in this competition, settled in the conditions and carrying real belief that an African club can go all the way to the final. Whoever wins Cruz Azul vs Flamengo will have to deal with that momentum just three days later.
PSG in the final – the giants watching everyone else
While all of that is happening, PSG are watching from a distance, knowing they only have one game to play – the final on 17 December. As UEFA Champions League winners, they are automatically placed in the showpiece match at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
For them, the Intercontinental Cup is:
- A chance to lift a global trophy in the same season as Europe’s biggest prize.
- A dress rehearsal for the expanded Club World Cup in 2025.
- A way to test themselves against a completely different style of opponent than they usually see in Ligue 1 or the Champions League.
And there’s a twist:
Whoever reaches that final from the other side – Cruz Azul, Flamengo or Pyramids – will have played two intense knockout games in a week. By the time they walk out to face PSG, it’ll be a mix of adrenaline, fatigue and pure emotion.
The Bigger Picture
The Intercontinental Cup is still new, but you can already see what FIFA wants it to be:
- A short, story-driven tournament where each confederation sends its champion,
- Extra silverware along the way (African–Asian–Pacific Cup, Derby of the Americas, Challenger Cup),
- And a final that really feels like a world title fight, not just a friendly with a nice badge attached.
This year’s version runs through Cruz Azul, Flamengo, Pyramids and PSG. One of them will end December with a new star on their CV – and the right to say they’re world champions until everyone comes back and does it all again next year.
Who will win? Fill the Bracket and share with your friends!
Playoffs
Final
Champion
