Intercontinental Cup 2025: Matches, Favorites, and Where to Watch!

The new Club World Cup has slightly changed the landscape of club competitions worldwide. But one thing remains: the end-of-year decision between the continental champions. This December, fans will find out who the new winner of the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup is and also place sports bets!

The competition has been running since June, but the games have had long intervals. Now, it finally reaches the decisive phase, with four teams vying for the title. You can see all the details of the tournament in this special guide prepared by Blaze. Check it out!

What is the new format of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?

The new Intercontinental Cup debuted in 2024, with the arrival of the Club World Cup in 2025. Six teams compete, representing the confederations linked to the highest football authority. Thus, these are intercontinental tournaments grouped, representing distinct phases.

These are: the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup, with the two games held in the home teams' countries, and the Derby of the Americas, already in the host country of the finals. They culminate in the Challenger Cup, with the two teams competing for a place in the final. The European team goes straight to the grand final.

The 2025 edition takes place in Qatar, between December 10th and 17th.

Phases of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup

The Intercontinental Cup is divided into four phases, with some teams needing to go through all of them and others entering directly into the final. See how it works:

Africa, Asia, and Pacific Playoff 1

The first phase of the international competition took place on June 30th. Pyramids FC, the 2024/25 CAF Champions League winner, hosted Auckland City, the 2025 OFC Champions League winner, in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, for the first Africa, Asia, and Pacific playoff. On that occasion, the African team won 3-0 and advanced to the next phase.

Americas Derby and Africa, Asia, and Pacific Playoff 2

The second phase is divided into two, with another Africa, Asia, and Pacific playoff and the Americas Derby. Pyramids FC played the three-continent playoff against Al-Ahli, the 2024/25 AFC Elite Champions League winner, and won again, this time as the away team, 3-1.

Cruz Azul vs. Flamengo

The Americas Derby is the first match of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup scheduled for December. The mini-tournament brings together the champion of the 2025 Copa Libertadores de América and the winner of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, or Flamengo and Cruz Azul, respectively.

This phase will take place at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar. The match between the teams from the American continent is scheduled for 12 PM (EST) on December 10th.

Historical Background

This game will be the first official confrontation between Flamengo and Cruz Azul in the history of the teams.

Expectations

Despite being two champions, there is a clear favorite between them: Flamengo. The Brazilian team surpasses the Mexican team in the odds, with 1.6 to win the game, compared to 5.6 for the opponent and 3.85 for a draw. There are also numbers focused on who will qualify for the next phase of the competition. In these too, Flamengo comes out on top, with 1.3 against 3.4.

Where to Watch

beIN SPORTS and FIFA+.

Bet on Cruz Azul x Flamengo at Blaze!

Challenger Cup

Pyramids are qualified and await the winner of the Derby of the Americas to fight for a place in the grand final of the competition. This phase, the third, is called the Challenger Cup and takes place in the same stadium as the previous stage, the Ahmad bin Ali, at 12 PM (EST), on Saturday (13).

Final

The new format of the Intercontinental Cup provides for direct qualification of the winner of the UEFA Champions League to the grand final. Thus, Paris Saint-Germain, champion of the 2024/25 season, is already guaranteed a spot, awaiting which, between Cruz Azul, Flamengo, and Pyramids, will compete for the title of best team in the world in 2025.

The final, with PSG on one side and the winner of the Challenger Cup on the other, is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17th. The game will again be at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, also at 12 PM (EST).

Who will win the 2025 Intercontinental Cup?

With four teams still in the running, this season's Intercontinental Cup has some favorites. Cruz Azul and Pyramids are the furthest from the title, with odds of 15.0 and 30.0, respectively.

Despite still needing to play the Derby of the Americas, Flamengo has odds of 3.5, behind only Paris Saint-Germain, already guaranteed in the final. The French team has odds of 1.25. This, of course, is before the second and third round matches, which are yet to take place. Remember that the odds can change and follow the competition.

Bet on the 2025 Intercontinental Cup at Blaze

A lot of football will close the season in 2025, and you can be part of the fun with sports betting. But first, remember to have Responsible Gaming set up for your team.

With responsibility on the field, you make more assertive choices and keep other areas of life, such as personal and financial, without headaches. After all, betting is a leisure and entertainment activity, never an investment.

Bet now on the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup at Blaze and celebrate the goals on the field!