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FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 final: PSG vs Flamengo – team news, lineups

By in News, World News

Who: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Flamengo
What: FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 final
When: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 8pm (17:00 GMT)
Where: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Doha, Qatar
How to follow: We will have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 14:00 GMT, before our live text commentary streams.

European heavyweights PSG and South American giants Flamengo clash in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, with each side eyeing another major trophy to cap off a stellar year.

Flamengo arrive fresh from a historic double, lifting the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Serie A title, a feat achieved only four times before, while PSG added four crowns, including the UEFA Champions League trophy, to their collection this year.

The revamped Intercontinental Cup brings together the winners of each confederation’s top club competition in a shorter format designed to complement FIFA’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know about the final:

What is the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025?

It is the second edition of the Intercontinental Cup, an annual knockout tournament organised by FIFA.

The tournament comprises the six continental champions from each of the six FIFA confederations: PSG (UEFA), Al Ahli FC (AFC), Cruz Azul (CONCACAF), Flamengo (CONMEBOL), Pyramids FC (CAF) and Auckland City FC (OFC).

The tournament began in September, with teams facing each other in a single-elimination bracket.

Here’s how the matches ended:

  • First round, September 14: Pyramids 3-0 Auckland City (African-Asian-Pacific Cup playoff)
  • Second round, September 23: Al Ahli 1-3 Pyramids (African-Asian-Pacific Cup)
  • Second round, December 10: Cruz Azul 1-2 Flamengo (Derby of the Americas)
  • Playoff, December 13: Flamengo 2-0 Pyramids (Challenger Cup)

The first two matches of the tournament were held in Cairo, Egypt, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The next two were held in Al-Rayyan, Qatar.

Flamengo, the winners of the Copa Libertadores, are unbeaten in their last seven matches [Ricardo Moraes/Reuters]

How is the Intercontinental Cup different from the FIFA Club World Cup?

From 1960 to 2004, the Intercontinental Cup was held annually and pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other.

In 2005, it was renamed the FIFA Club World Cup to include other continental champions. However, the competition was relaunched this year as a quadrennial tournament expanded to 32 teams, with Chelsea named the inaugural winners of the new format.

Similarly, the Intercontinental Cup was also relaunched in its new format in 2024 when Real Madrid beat Mexican club Pachuca.

While the Intercontinental Cup carries the honorary tag of annual “world champions”, it still ranks below the expanded Club World Cup in terms of prestige and significance.

Where is the final being held?

Al-Rayyan’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, named after a former emir of Qatar, will host the Intercontinental Cup final. The 45,032-capacity venue hosted seven matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A general view ahead of the World Cup group B soccer match between Wales and Iran, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan was one of the eight venues at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar [File: Manu Fernandez/AP Photo]

How did PSG and Flamengo reach the final?

As per the format confirmed in September 2024, PSG received an automatic bye to the final after winning the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League title. The Parisians thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 to be crowned European champions.

Meanwhile, Flamengo’s road to the final was far from straightforward. The Rio de Janeiro side first lifted the Copa Libertadores title, then edged Cruz Azul 2-1 in the Derby of the Americas, before defeating Pyramids 2-0 in the Challenger Cup to set up their showdown with PSG.

Form guide

All competitions, most recent result last:

PSG: W-D-W-L-W

Flamengo: W-W-D-W-W

Head-to-head: PSG-Flamengo

This will be the first competitive meeting between PSG and Flamengo.

Paris St Germain's Warren Zaire-Emery, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz applaud fans after the match
PSG are the defending European and French champions [File: Albert Gea/Reuters]

PSG’s team news

PSG head coach Luis Enrique rested many of his usual starters – including Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – in their last Ligue 1 game before their trip to Qatar.

All three players will feature on Wednesday; however, the Parisians will be without Achraf Hakimi (ankle injury) and Marquinhos (hip injury), while star striker Ousmane Dembele is listed as doubtful due to illness.

PSG’s possible lineup

Lucas Chevalier (goalkeeper); Warren Zaire-Emery, Ilya Zabarnyi, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Bradley Barcola, Senny Mayulu, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Flamengo’s team news

Head coach Filipe Luis did not name Allan in his squad that flew to Qatar. Apart from that, he has a fully fit squad to choose from for Wednesday’s final.

Flamengo’s possible lineup

Agustin Rossi (goalkeeper); Guillermo Varela, Danilo, Leo Pereira, Alex Sandro; Erick Pulgar, Jorginho; Jorge Carrascal, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Everton; Gonzalo Plata

Are tickets still available for the final?

Tickets for the match went on sale on November 21 on the official FIFA platform across three categories, ranging from about $14 to $69. Some are still up for grabs.

Where to watch the final

Ed Sheeran takes savage swipe at Strictly as he reveals why he’ll never sign up for show

By in Entertainment News, News

Thinking Out Loud star, Ed Sheeran, has made a savage dig at Strictly Come Dancing after being asked at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball if he would ever take part in the BBC show

Ed Sheeran has taken a savage swipe at Strictly Come Dancing as he vowed never to sign up for the BBC show.

The superstarsinger, 34 – who put his ballroom dancing skills to the test in his 2014 video, Thinking Out Loud – would be an A-list addition to the BBC series, which ends next week in a star-studded finale.

Many fans would love to see Ed strut his stuff on the dance floor. However, the Regrets star insists there’s no way we’ll see him slipping into sequins any time soon as he made a cheeky dig at the primetime programme.

READ MORE: Biggest hint yet that these names are the new Strictly hosts set to replace Tess Daly and Claudia WinklemanREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing results spoiler leaves fans fuming as star sent home

Referring to the so-called Strictly curse, which has seen married couples fall for their Strictly professional partner – or another celebrity on the show – Ed made his feelings clear when asked if he would ever take part in the show. Speaking backstage at the Capital Jingle Ball, he stated, firmly: “No,” before quipping: “I enjoy being married”

The former busker also insisted he wasn’t very good at dancing, saying: “You’ve got to do what you’re good at and that ain’t what I’m good at.

“I’ve done some dancing, but I do lots of rehearsals for that. [Thinking Out Loud] was six weeks of full on ballroom dancing every single day. A bit like hardcore Strictly Come Dancing, but not going on television.”

During his set on Jingle Bell Ball on Saturday, Ed paid tribute to his wife, Cherry, after adding the Play album track Heaven to his performance — because it’s her favourite.

The singer, whose net worth has been estimated to be as much as £370 million, married his school friend at a private ceremony in 2018 after dating for three years but waited almost a year to confirm the news publicly.

Cherry, who shares two kids with Ed, was reportedly set to appear in the video for star’s recent track, Camera, in private footage of the pair.

The idea was to pay tribute to his partner as Ed shared with the his fans how thankful he has been for Cherry’s support as he shot to fame as a global superstar after busking on the streets of Edinburgh.

However, the Mail reports that at the 11th hour, after consulting with Cherry, Ed chose Bridgerton actress, Phoebe Dynevor, to play his wife, recreating the ‘best moments’ of his 20 years with his childhood friend.

Taking to social media, explaining the importance of privacy to the couple, Ed said: “As you guys know, we are an intensely private couple, and some things we wanted to keep just for us.”

However, at a Spotify pop-up ahead of the ball, the star was forced to defend his marriage when some fans expressed concern after hearing some of the songs from his new album.

In the track Problems, he sings: ‘Flowers in our garden are dying, When did the water run dry? Who can tell? But you want the truth, we’re not fine. We got problems, and we don’t know how to solve them.’

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However, insisting he recorded the track at a time of ‘heightened emotion’, Ed said: “Sometimes people listen to records today and assume that what that song is, is their world 100 per cent at the time. It’s very much like heightened emotions. You never write a song on a ‘meh’ day.”

Hamas confirms killing of senior commander in Israeli strike in Gaza

By in News, World News

Hamas has confirmed the killing of its senior commander Raed Saad in an Israeli attack in Gaza in the highest-profile assassination of a senior figure in the Palestinian group since the October ceasefire deal.

The Israeli military had said on Saturday it had killed Saad in an attack near Gaza City. At least 25 people were wounded in the latest Israeli attack in Gaza.

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Hamas’ Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya in a video statement on Sunday accused Israel of violating the October ceasefire agreement.

“In the wake of Israel’s continued violations, including the latest assassination of a Hamas commander just yesterday, we call on the mediators and especially the US administration and US President Donald Trump as the main guarantor of the agreement, to force Israel to respect the ceasefire deal and to implement it,” he said.

Since the ceasefire started in October, Israel has continued to attack Gaza daily – reaching nearly 800 times and killing at least 386 people – in a clear breach of the agreement, according to authorities in Gaza.

Australia police respond after gunshots reported at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

By in News, World News

Police in Australia say they are responding to a developing incident at Sydney’s Bondi Beach after media outlets reported a shooting incident.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported shots at the beach on Sunday, saying multiple people had been injured. Television networks Sky and ABC aired footage showing people lying on the ground.

The New South Wales (NSW) police said two people were in custody, adding that the operation was ongoing.

“Anyone at the scene should take shelter,” they posted on X, calling on the public to avoid the area.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was aware “of an active security situation in Bondi”.

“We urge people in the vicinity to follow information from NSW Police,” said the spokesperson.

Mikaelian beats Jack to regain WBC title

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images

Noel Mikaelian beat Badou Jack by a unanimous points decision in Los Angeles to regain the WBC cruiserweight title.

Mikaelian had been narrowly beaten by Jack in May and lost the belt, but the German earned a convincing win on Saturday as the three judges scored the fight 115-111, 116-110, 116-110 in his favour.

The bout was a scrappy affair in which Mikaelian, 35, was deducted a point in the seventh round for a punch to the back of his 42-year-old Swedish opponent’s head.

A point was then taken off Jack in the eighth for punching after the bell, with officials and both corners having to step into the ring to separate the pair as they continued to fight.

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