Key Takeaways:
- Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo will contest the Intercontinental Cup final this evening at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar
- PSG progressed directly to the final as UEFA Champions League winners, while Flamengo eliminated Cruz Azul and Pyramids to reach this stage
- Flamengo aim to cap a remarkable year after claiming both the Brazilian title and Copa Libertadores, but will be without Allan for the final
Showpiece Final Brings European and South American Champions Face to Face
Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo are slated to meet in the Intercontinental Cup final this evening, with the contest set to unfold at Qatar’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. While the accolade carries less global prestige than the forthcoming expanded FIFA Club World Cup, a victory would carry significant pride for either European or South American football.
🇫🇷 PSG vs FLAMENGO 🇧🇷
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final is TODAY! Match is being played in Qatar. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/tS556bfyFk
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 17, 2025
Tournament Format and Teams’ Path to the Final
The current format of the Intercontinental Cup features the champion clubs from each of the six football confederations, structured as a single-elimination tournament. PSG, having secured the UEFA Champions League crown, entered the competition directly at the final stage. In contrast, Flamengo faced a more demanding journey, first overcoming Cruz Azul of Mexico 2:1, and subsequently defeating Egypt’s Pyramids 2:0 – themselves conquerors of Auckland City from New Zealand and Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia.
| Club | Route to Final | Key Absence |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | Qualified directly as UEFA Champions League winners | Ousmane Dembélé (doubt – illness) |
| Flamengo | Defeated Cruz Azul (2:1), Pyramids (2:0) | Allan (did not travel) |
Team News and Squad Updates
Despite PSG’s status as favourites, the French side are reportedly not in peak form. Bradley Barcola, João Neves, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are forecasted to feature in the starting eleven, while Ousmane Dembélé’s availability is in question due to illness.
For the Brazilians, this fixture marks an opportunity to round off a historic season, having already secured both the Brazilian league championship and the Copa Libertadores title. The squad has few selection concerns; their only significant absentee is Allan, who has not travelled with the team to Qatar.
