DOHA, Qatar — After breaking its long wait for a Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germain now has the opportunity to cap off the year by securing its first Intercontinental Cup trophy.
This Wednesday, PSG will face Brazilian club Flamengo, the champions of South America, in the final of the year-end international tournament. No French squad has ever clinched the Intercontinental Cup, which originally ran for over 40 years until its rebranding as the Club World Cup in 2004.
FIFA reintroduced the Intercontinental Cup last year after revamping the Club World Cup into a 32-team tournament held in summer.
PSG previously lost to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final in the United States last July, shortly after clinching its first Champions League title in May.
“My focus is on building from what we achieved last season,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique ahead of the match in Doha. “Making history was our goal last season, and we intend to keep that momentum going. Every final is unique, and Flamengo is a formidable opponent, making this a challenging match.”
Flamengo is also in pursuit of its second Intercontinental Cup title, having triumphed against Liverpool in 1981, featuring legendary Brazilian players Zico and Júnior. They are eager to finish a remarkable year, having won both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian championship.
While PSG secured a direct spot in the final as the European champion, Flamengo earned their place by defeating Mexico’s Cruz Azul and Egypt’s Pyramids.
Traditionally, South American teams have treated this tournament with greater seriousness than their European counterparts, yet PSG opted to rest several key players during Saturday’s 3-2 league victory over Metz to prepare for their journey to Qatar. Notably, right-back Achraf Hakimi did not make the trip due to injury.
“We recognize PSG’s strength and acknowledge they are the favorites, but that does not diminish our confidence,” said seasoned Flamengo left-back Alex Sandro. “This match is significant for us, and we plan to relish every moment, every second, every opportunity on the field, and every touch of the ball as if it were our last. Right now, our sole focus is on this game.”
The victorious team will have the honor of wearing a FIFA badge on its jersey for the following year.