Mundial starts! Matheus Gonçalves' side win, may face Libertadores champs | OneFootball

Al Ahli (SAU) beat Auckland (NZL) and advanced in the Intercontinental Cup

Flamengo dreams of returning to the Intercontinental Cup. To do that, it needs to win this year’s Libertadores. Even before the end of the continental competition, the world tournament has already begun. This Wednesday (26), Al Ahli (SAU), the team of former Flamengo player Matheus Gonçalves, beat Auckland (NZL) 1-0 and could face the South American champion in the competition.

In the next round, Al Ahli will face the African champion, Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA). Whoever advances from that clash will take on the 2026 Libertadores champion or Toluca (MEX), the Concacaf winner. The ‘Challenger Cup’, the last hurdle before the final, will take place on December 12. The grand final, against PSG (FRA), the current holder of the Champions League trophy, will be on 12/16.

WHAT DOES THE 2026 CLUB WORLD CUP BRACKET LOOK LIKE?

DID MATHEUS GONÇALVES PLAY?

A product of Flamengo’s youth academy, Matheus Gonçalves stayed on the Al Ahli bench. The game’s goal, meanwhile, came from a player who started as a substitute. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Abu Al-Shamat received the ball inside the box and slotted it past goalkeeper Woud.

WHAT ABOUT THE LIBERTADORES CHAMPION?

Meanwhile, South America’s spot is still open. The Libertadores final is scheduled for November 28 and will decide the continent’s representative in the Intercontinental Cup. At the moment, four Brazilian clubs are still alive in the Libertadores: Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, and Fluminense. That means Al Ahli could cross paths with one of those teams in the Intercontinental Cup.

IS PSG ALREADY IN THE FINAL?

Finally, Paris Saint-Germain has already secured a place in the Intercontinental Cup final. The French club, the current European champion, is chasing its second straight title in the tournament. Therefore, the Libertadores champion will need to get past two opponents before even thinking about the final against PSG.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— The injustice in the Intercontinental format continues. Last year, Flamengo had two battles, against Cruz Azul (MEX) and Pyramids (EGY), and arrived worn out to face PSG. Even so, Filipe Luís’ team almost won the Club World Cup, losing on penalties. Now, the Nação hopes Leonardo Jardim’s men can get revenge against Paris —, said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist at Coluna do Fla.

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