Cruz Azul vs Flamengo meet in the prestigious 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar in a historic “Derby of the Americas” that marks the first-ever competitive meeting between two continental champions.
The match pits Flamengo fresh off their historic Copa Libertadores title victory over Palmeiras just 11 days prior on November 29 against the Concachampions-crowned Cruz Azul in Round 2 of the revamped intercontinental competition.
The winner advances to the Challenger Cup on December 13 against Pyramids FC of Egypt, with the ultimate prize being a December 17 final against 2024-25 UEFA Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain.
Cruz Azul vs Flamengo Match Information, Prediction, H2H and Where to Watch
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Match Info – Cruz Azul vs Flamengo
Match Details: Cruz Azul hosts Flamengo at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 17:00 UTC (11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT).
This FIFA Intercontinental Cup Round 2 encounter is part of football’s newly restructured intercontinental championship format.
Flamengo’s Extraordinary Form:
The Brazilian football giants arrive as reigning Copa Libertadores champions after delivering a masterclass performance in Lima, Peru on November 29, defeating Palmeiras 1-0 in a tightly contested final.
Flamengo have been absolutely devastating in recent weeks, winning four consecutive matches before the Copa Libertadores final with commanding victories: 3-0 over São Paulo, 2-1 against Bahia, and 2-1 over Athético Paranaense in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
Under coach Filipe Luís, Flamengo possess a well-balanced squad combining youth with experience, blending the creative brilliance of midfielders like Bruno Henrique and Gerson with the clinical finishing prowess of striker Pedro and forward Everton Cebolinha.
Their Copa Libertadores victory validates their status as one of South America’s strongest teams heading into Qatar.
Cruz Azul’s Domestic Challenge:
The Mexican champions won the Concacaf Champions in June 2025 after defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1, confirming their status as Concacaf’s elite club. However, Cruz Azul arrived in Qatar amid Liga MX Apertura 2025 playoff complications, having recently suffered a devastating 1-0 loss to Atlas in the Liguilla semifinal on December 5.
This domestic disappointment provides mixed momentum for the Intercontinental Cup—while Cruz Azul proved their continental credentials by defeating Vancouver, their recent domestic struggles suggest they arrive somewhat emotionally depleted.
Cruz Azul Recent Matches
| Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamengo (Intercontinental) | TBD | Upcoming | FIFA Intercontinental Cup | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Atlas (Liguilla SF) | 0-1 | L | Liga MX Apertura 2025 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| Juárez (Liguilla QF) | 3-0 | W | Liga MX Apertura 2025 | Dec 2, 2025 |
| San Luis (Regular Season) | 1-1 | D | Liga MX Apertura 2025 | Nov 28, 2025 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps (Concachampions) | 2-1 | W | Concachampions Final | Jun 21, 2025 |
Flamengo Recent Matches
| Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruz Azul (Intercontinental) | TBD | Upcoming | FIFA Intercontinental Cup | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores Final) | 1-0 | W | Copa Libertadores 2025 | Nov 29, 2025 |
| Athético Paranaense (Reg Season) | 2-1 | W | Campeonato Brasileiro | Nov 22, 2025 |
| São Paulo (Reg Season) | 3-0 | W | Campeonato Brasileiro | Nov 15, 2025 |
| Bahia (Reg Season) | 2-1 | W | Campeonato Brasileiro | Nov 8, 2025 |
Cruz Azul vs Flamengo Head to Head
This is the first-ever competitive meeting between Cruz Azul and Flamengo, making this FIFA Intercontinental Cup encounter a historic inaugural clash between the Concachampions and the Copa Libertadores champions.
Neither team has faced the other previously at any level, meaning tactical preparation will be based purely on contemporary form analysis and playing style evaluation rather than historical trends.
| Record | Total | Cruz Azul Wins | Draws | Flamengo Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals For | 0 | 0 | ||
| Goals Against | 0 | 0 | ||
| Status | First Meeting | – | – | – |
Cruz Azul Team News:
The Concachampions arrive in Qatar with significant squad concerns following injuries to key personnel. Critical absences include:
- Kevin Mier (Goalkeeper) – Injured and unavailable
- Jesús Orozco (Defender) – Recently suffered a serious injury requiring surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, likely sidelining him for the 2026 World Cup
- Andrés Montaño (Midfielder) – Injured status
Available Key Players:
- Carlos Rotondi (Forward) – Leading goalscorer with 11 goals in 12 matches during the season
- Ángel Sepúlveda (Forward) – 6 goals across the season, providing a secondary attacking threat
- Willer Ditta (Defender) – Central defensive anchor with 12 appearances
- Erik Lira (Midfielder) – Providing midfield stability with 11 appearances
- Jesús Paradela (Midfielder) – Creative midfielder with 5 assists, leading provider
- Andrés Gudiño (Goalkeeper) – Backup goalkeeper stepping in due to Mier’s injury
Cruz Azul’s defensive crisis, with both Orozco sidelined and Mier significantly injured, weakens their capacity to contain Flamengo’s attacking assault.
Flamengo Team News:
The Copa Libertadores champions arrive at peak form but with one notable casualty:
Available Key Players:
- Gerson (Midfielder) – Midfield commander and ball distributor, recently signed a new contract until December 2030
- Bruno Henrique (Forward/Winger) – Creative attacker providing width and goal-scoring threat
- Everton Cebolinha (Forward) – Secondary striker with goal-scoring capabilities
- Erick Pulgar (Midfielder) – Defensive midfielder providing midfield protection
- Gabriel Barbosa (Forward) – Experienced forward adding attacking depth
- Varela (Defender) – Right-back providing defensive solidity
- Léo Pereira (Defender) – Central defender maintaining defensive organisation
- Ayrton Lucas (Defender) – Left-back providing offensive contribution from the flank
Even without Pedro, Flamengo still boast impressive attacking depth with plenty of goal-scoring options, while keeping the solid defensive structure that secured them the Copa Libertadores.
Cruz Azul vs Flamengo Starting XI Lineups
| Position | Cruz Azul (3-4-2-1) | Flamengo (3-4-2-1) |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Andrés Gudiño | Agustín Rossi |
| Defender | Willer Ditta | Guillermo Varela |
| Defender | Erik Lira | Danilo |
| Defender | Gonzalo Piovi | Léo Pereira |
| Midfielder | Jorge Sánchez | Alex Sandro |
| Midfielder | Lorenzo Faravelli | Erick Pulgar |
| Midfielder | Carlos Rotondi | Jorginho |
| Midfielder | Omar Campos | Giorgian De Arrascaeta |
| Forward | José Paradela | Luiz Araújo |
| Forward | Ignacio Rivero | Jorge Carrascal |
| Forward | Gabriel Fernández | Bruno Henrique |
Cruz Azul vs Flamengo Match Prediction
This FIFA Intercontinental Cup encounter represents a fascinating clash between continental excellence, with Flamengo entering as clear favourites based on their Copa Libertadores championship form and recent dominance across multiple competitions. Flamengo’s four-match winning streak before the Copa Libertadores final, combined with their championship triumph just 11 days prior, provides exceptional form and confidence heading into Qatar.
Flamengo’s tactical superiority and attacking depth appear decisive—with multiple goal-scoring options in Pedro, Cebolinha, and Barbosa, they can overwhelm Cruz Azul’s defence if it falters. Additionally, Gerson and Arrascaeta’s midfield creativity provides numerous attacking avenues, while their defensive organisation under Filipe Luís has proven exceptional.
Cruz Azul’s Challenge: The Concachampions possess Concacaf credentials and showed this by defeating Vancouver in June, but they arrive with domestic disappointment and face a fundamentally superior attacking opposition. Their recent 1-0 loss to Atlas suggests potential defensive vulnerabilities that Flamengo will absolutely exploit.
- Predicted Score: Flamengo 2-0 Cruz Azul
Flamengo’s recent championship pedigree, attacking depth, and form suggest they will advance to face Pyramids FC in the Challenger Cup on December 13, setting up a potential final against PSG.
Where to Watch Cruz Azul vs Flamengo in USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and More
| Country | TV / Broadcating |
|---|---|
| United States: | Streaming: FIFA.com, ESPN+, Fubo Time: 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT (December 10, 2025) |
| Canada: | Streaming: FIFA.com, TSN Time: 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT |
| Brazil: | TV: Globo, SporTV, Premiere Streaming: Globoplay Time: 2:00 PM BRT (December 10, 2025) |
| Mexico | TV: TUDN, Televisa Streaming: FIFA.com Time: 11:00 AM CT / 9:00 AM PT (December 10, 2025) |
| United Kingdom and Europe: | Streaming: FIFA.com, ESPN+ Time: 5:00 PM GMT / 6:00 PM CET (December 10, 2025) |
| Australia | Streaming: FIFA.com, ESPN+ Time: December 11, 2025 (Australian time zone) |
Global Viewing: The FIFA Intercontinental Cup will be broadcast globally on FIFA.com and various regional broadcasters, including ESPN+, Fubo, and regional sports networks.
