Flamengo set out plan for Messi Cup debut | OneFootball

Flamengo has finalized its plan for its debut in the Messi Cup, in Fort Lauderdale, United States. The tournament will be played from October 25 to November 1, with 16 teams, and the Rubro-Negro will be represented by its U-15 squad.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that Flamengo will use players born in 2011, even though the Messi Cup is intended for the U-16 category. The regulations also allow the registration of up to two players born in 2010 as part of the squad.

The team will travel on October 23 and arrive in the United States on the eve of its debut. The delegation will stay at Hollywood Beach, 10 to 15 minutes from Inter Miami’s training center, where the matches will be played. The return to Brazil is scheduled for November 2.

International experience is part of the project

Flamengo treated its participation as an opportunity to broaden the players’ experience in an international environment. In addition to the competition, the schedule will allow the athletes to experience structures, opponents, and routines different from those found in Brazilian football.

“Of course they are training and we are preparing to compete and go for the title, but what the boys will take away from this trip goes far beyond the competition’s final result,” said José Rodrigo, process coordinator for Flamengo’s youth football.

Messi Cup will feature 16 teams

The Messi Cup will be made up of 16 clubs, divided into four groups of four teams. Flamengo’s opponents in the first phase have not yet been defined, and its debut will take place on October 25.

Each participant will play three matches in the opening stage. Performance in this phase will determine not only qualification, but also which tournament each team will play in during the next stage of the competition promoted by the Argentine.

Gold and Silver will decide the final stretch

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Gold Cup quarterfinals, while the third- and fourth-place teams will compete in the Silver Cup. After the quarterfinals, the teams will move on to the semifinals and finals of their respective competitions.

Thus, all participants will have matches until the end of the tournament. For Flamengo, the debut will also serve to test the U-15 generation against opponents from different schools of football and assess the players’ development in a new environment.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.