Road to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025: Cruz Azul | OneFootball

MIAMI – The FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 resumes on December 10, as reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul seek to add a few more trophies to close the year. 

As winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Mexican club qualified for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup to compete against the other continental champions of the world. 

The journey for La Maquina began by reaching the Final of the Liga MX Clausura 2024 season. Its runners-up secured the club's berth in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. 

Los Cementeros began their CCC campaign in Round One with a 7-nil aggregate victory against Real Hope FA. The club went on to win 4-1 on aggregate against Seattle Sounders FC in the Round of 16. A Mexico City rivalry series saw Cruz Azul triumphant in a 2-1 aggregate victory against Club America in the Quarterfinals, prior to another 2-1 aggregate win against fellow Mexican side Tigres UANL in the Semifinals. 

The Cruz Azul offense was rolling on all cylinders in the Final to earn a 5-nil win against Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. The victory sealed a record-tying seventh Concacaf Champions Cup title for the Liga MX club. 

Ángel Sepúlveda received the Best Player Award, presented by Scotiabank, for his nine goals and two assists, including two goals in the final, to help the historic conquest. Sepúlveda also took the Top Goal Scorer Award, presented by Aramco. 

Kevin Mier was recognized with the Best Goalkeeper Award for his outstanding performances as a key figure, with nine saves and three clean sheets in seven appearances. 

Cruz Azul’s next test will come against CONMEBOL’s Copa Libertadores winners CR Flamengo in the FIFA Derby of the Americas 2025 on December 10 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar. 

If victorious, the Mexican club would advance to meet Pyramids FC in the FIFA Challenger Cup 2025 on December 13 in the same setting. Pyramids FC defeated Auckland City FC in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Play-off on September 14 in Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptian club won against Al Ahli FC in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup 2025 on September 23 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

The winner of the FIFA Challenger Cup will face UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on December 17 in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 Final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar.