José Boto urges Flamengo fans for 2026 run-in: “Trust our work” | OneFootball

Flamengo are competing for the Brasileirão and Libertadores titles

After a historic 2025 season, Flamengo have everything it takes to maintain their ‘level’ in 2026. After all, the Rubro-Negro are still alive in the race for the Brasileirão and Libertadores titles. Fla’s football director, José Boto, called on the red-and-black fans with the final stretch of the year in mind.

“Trust the work we are doing, support us, and do as you did in the last Libertadores match, when we were reduced to 10 men and you came onto the pitch and truly became the 12th man,” he said, before concluding:

“In that case, the 11th, since we were one player down. When the whole Maracanã pulls in the same direction, it is very difficult for any opponent to play there,” Boto concluded in an interview with the program ‘Bola na Rede’.

What is Flamengo’s situation in 2026?

At the moment, Flamengo sit top of the Brasileirão with 60 points. The Rubro-Negro have a three-point lead over Palmeiras, who are in second place. In other words, Mengão are on course for back-to-back tournament titles.

In the Libertadores, Flamengo are preparing to face Estudiantes (ARG) in the semifinals. After eliminating Independiente del Valle (ECU) in the quarterfinals, the Rubro-Negro will take on the Argentine side on October 15 and 22, with the decisive match taking place at the Maracanã.

Flamengo fans were the 12th man against Del Valle

As José Boto said, Flamengo’s fans were crucial to the red-and-black side’s qualification against Del Valle. After all, while the Ecuadorian team were leading 1-0, Jorginho was sent off. However, the supporters put on a show in the stands and ‘pushed’ Fla toward the Libertadores semifinals.

When is Flamengo’s next match?

Flamengo’s next match in 2026 will take place on October 8, against Santos. On that occasion, the teams will face each other at Vila Belmiro at 7:30 pm (Brasília time), in the 29th round of the Brasileirão. That means Mengão will have around two weeks to prepare for the clash in Baixada Santista.

It is worth noting that the Brazilian football calendar is paused due to the FIFA international break. In this way, Flamengo will have a few days to prepare for the rest of the season and recover injured players such as Evertton Araújo, Plata, and Ayrton Lucas.

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