In addition to elevating Flamengo to the position of Brazilian club with the most Libertadores titles, the The fourth title in the most important South American competition, won on Saturday (29), guaranteed Rubro-Negro in two other tournaments: this year’s Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 Club World Cupboth organized by the International Football Federation (FIFA).
The Intercontinental Cup occupies, on the calendar, the period allocated to the World Cup in the old format, which brought together seven clubs (six continental champions and one representative of the host country), in which teams from South America and Europe entered directly into the semi-finals. Since last year, there are only six teams, one per confederation.
This year’s edition began in September, with a clash between the winners of the African Champions League (Pyramids, from Egypt) and Oceania (Auckland City, from New Zealand). The Egyptians won (3-0) and qualified for the Africa-Asia-Oceania Cup, against the Asian representative (Al Ahli, from Saudi Arabia).
The African team came out on top again (3-1), lifted the trophy and qualified for the so-called Challenger Cup, in which they will face the winner of the duel between Flamengo and Cruz Azul, from Mexico, who are competing in the Derby of the Americas in Doha, also worth the cup.
The confrontation will be on December 10th, at 2pm (Brasília time). It is worth remembering, however, that the last round of the Brazilian Championship is scheduled for December 7th, three days before the game in Qatar.
Whoever passes will face Pyramids on December 13th, at the same place and time. The winner of this Challenger Cup, finally, makes the final of the Intercontinental Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, from France, winner of the last European Champions League.
The decision will also be made in Doha, on December 17th.
In 2024, Botafogo was the Brazilian and South American representative at the Intercontinental. Glorioso was beaten by Pachuca, from Mexico, 3-0, in the Dérbi das Américas. The title went to Real Madrid, from Spain, who beat the Mexicans 3-0.
The 2029 Club World Cup, in turn, does not yet have a defined venue. South America is entitled to six places, four for the Libertadores champions from the 2025-2028 four-year period, which means that Flamengo is already guaranteed.
Rubro-Negro was in this year’s edition, in the United States, and reached the round of 16, being eliminated by Bayern Munich, from Germany. They are also guaranteed a place: Al-Ahli, Cruz Azul, Pyramids and PSG.
