Club World Cup Preview: Flamengo

In partnership with

Hooligan Soccer

·6 June 2025

Club World Cup Preview: Flamengo

The fourteenth in our continuing series highlighting all thirty-two clubs in the FIFA Club World Cup, which starts on June 14th.

Club Background

From: Rio de Janiero, Brazil
How They Qualified: Flamengo were the 2022 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winners, defeating Athletico Paranaense 1 – 0.
Best CWC Finish: This is their third time qualifying. They were runners up in 2019, and finished in third place in 2022.

Recent Form: Sit in first place in the Brasileirão Betano by a single point. They are currently on an eight game unbeaten run. This season they’ve won the Supercopa do Brasil & Campeonato Carioca. They are still alive in the Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores.
Facts: The club was founded in 1895, but the soccer division started in 1911. Flamengo has the highest revenues and valuation of any Brazilian club. Maybe it’s because their kit has eight different logo/sponsors. Ka-ching! There’s barely any room left over for the player’s name. Their training facility is known as Ninho do Urubu (The Vulture’s Nest). They have a long-standing rivalry with fellow Rio clubs Botafogo and Fluminense (both of whom are participating in the Club World Cup). 74% of the team is Brazilian; 100% South American.

The Team

Manager: Filipe Luís Luís was a left back with 40 caps for Brazil, and a professional career that saw him play for clubs like Ajax, Deportivo la Coruña, Atlético Madrid, and Chelsea. He retired in 2023 after spending four years at Flamengo and joined their coaching staff. He took over head coaching duties in October 2024 after previous manager Tite was dismissed. His contract runs through 2025.
Star Players: Giorgian De Arrascaeta Uruguayan attacking midfielder. Has 12g/5a in 26 games this season. Pedro 27 year-old striker. Won the golden boot in the 2022 Club World Cup. Was out for eight months with injury. Since his April return he has 5g/3a in 14 games.
Young Players: Lorran 18 year-old attacking midfielder. He’s a highly rated prospect whose form over the past few weeks has improved significantly. Matheus Gonçalves 19 year-old attacking midfielder. Has 2 goals on 190 minutes of play in the Campeonato Carioca Wesley Teixeira 21 year-old defender. He came from Flamengo’s academy product and has 12 clean sheets, 32 tackles and 24 interceptions in 24 games.
Training Sites: Stockton University, Galloway, NJ Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, FL

When to Watch

9:00pm ET on Jun 16, 2025 vs. Espérance de Tunis @ Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
2:00pm ET on Jun 20, 2025 vs. Chelsea @ Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
9:00pm ET on Jun 24, 2025 vs. LAFC @ Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

The Hooligan Take

Flamengo are a rugged and battle-tested side, comfortable playing in the crucible of the Brazilian league. They should be able to advance out of the group stage, though Chelsea and LAFC might prove stubborn opponents.