Cruz Azul meets Flamengo in FIFA Derby of the Americas | OneFootball

MIAMI – The FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 resumes with reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul facing CONMEBOL’s Copa Libertadores winners CR Flamengo in the FIFA Derby of the Americas 2025 on Wednesday at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar.

The Mexican club earned its participation by winning a record-tying seventh Concacaf Champions Cup, winning 5-nil against Vancouver Whitecaps FC last June. Ángel Sepúlveda was one of the stars of the tournament with nine goals and 11 total goal contributions on his way to winning the Best Player Award, presented by Scotiabank, and the Top Goal Scorer Award, presented by Aramco.

Cruz Azul is coming off a semifinal finish in the Liga MX Apertura 2025 playoffs, bowing out on a 2-2 aggregate to Tigres UANL. La Máquina finished third in the league standings with a 10-5-2 record. Sepúlveda and Gabriel Fernández led the club with seven goals apiece to rank among the top ten in the regular season.

Brazilian club Flamengo recently collected its fourth Copa Libertadores trophy with a 1-nil win over Palmeiras in the Final. Danilo scored the match-winning goal in the final to set up the matchup against one of Mexico’s top clubs.

In the first FIFA Derby of the Americas last year, Concacaf representative CF Pachuca earned a 3-nil win over then Libertadores winners Botafogo. The Liga MX side went on to finish runners-up against Real Madrid in the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final.