Flamengo head to Qatar in party mood for Intercontinental Cup | OneFootball

Flamengo began their journey to Qatar this Saturday, where they will compete in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. As has become tradition, the red-and-black delegation was accompanied by a crowd of fans at the “AeroFla,” which once again took over the surroundings of Tom Jobim International Airport. The celebration began hours before the club's bus arrived, with flags, chants, and flares painting the Galeão Terminal in red and black.

The movement of fans started late in the morning, with a meeting point at the Fundão BRT. The team began their operation at 12:45 PM, leaving the Ninho do Urubu towards Galeão. Escorted by the Military Police, the bus traveled through the main roads of the city until reaching the Cargo Terminal, the reserved location for boarding.

Light Atmosphere and High Confidence

Among the athletes, the atmosphere was one of confidence. Luiz Araújo reinforced the team's sense of accomplishment after a historic season.

“I’m feeling very accomplished. It’s a dream; we dreamed of this at the beginning of the season, and now we’ve achieved it. We know this Intercontinental is missing, which is not just our dream, but that of the entire Nation. It’s very difficult, but for Flamengo, nothing is impossible,” he said to FlaTV.

“Just like in the Brasileirão and Libertadores, we will have tough games. We know our potential, how prepared we are for this, we are united and confident. We will respect all opponents, but we know the strength Flamengo has,” he added.

With the Brazilian title secured in advance, the fans treated the departure as another chapter of celebration. However, the event's organization reminded fans to avoid climbing onto the club's bus, recalling the conflict episodes with the police during the last departure to the Libertadores final last month.

Despite the appeal, the celebration remained intense but peaceful. Chants, flags, and a red-and-black wave accompanied the delegation until boarding.

Long Journey and Luxury Plane

Flamengo will travel in one of the most modern executive aircraft in the world, a Boeing 767-300 adapted with only 96 fully reclining seats. The plane, valued at over R$ 1 billion, ensures total comfort during the nearly 18-hour journey to Doha, with a refueling stop in Accra, the capital of Ghana. According to the club, the goal is to allow the athletes to rest adequately and land ready to start adjusting to the time zone.

Total Focus on the Intercontinental

With the last round of the Brasileirão being played with an alternative team, facing Mirassol at 6:30 PM (Brasília time) this Saturday, the main squad is already focused exclusively on the Intercontinental. The team embarks in search of the fifth title of the season. The debut takes place in the “Derby of the Americas” against Cruz Azul from Mexico, at 2 PM (Brasília time) next Wednesday. The match will be held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

Check out Flamengo's squad:

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