PSG: Intercontinental Cup Excitement Builds

Paris Saint-Germain is preparing to end an absolutely insane year 2025, the most successful in its entire history. The Parisians won everything in their path: a new title in Ligue 1, a Coupe de France regained, a controlled Champions Trophy, before going to conquer above all the Champions League and the European Super Cup, the summit of their season and the key to their direct qualification for the final of the Intercontinental Cup. The only hitch in this almost perfect run: the Club World Cup final lost to Chelsea last summer after a spectacular duel. Individually too, PSG brilliantly dominated the football world with an Ousmane Dembélé Ballon d’Or, a Yachine trophy for Gianluigi Donnarumma, a Golden Boy for Désiré Doué, an African Ballon d’Or won by Achraf Hakimi, an Asian Ballon d’Or for Kang-in Lee, and massive distinctions like best club, best president, best manager and best coach of the year at the Golden Boy ceremony, without forgetting the Cruyff trophy for Luis Enrique. An avalanche of awards which reflects the overall excellence of the Parisian project.

This crazy year 2025 will reach a final climax on December 17, in Doha, during yet another grand final. The new version of the Intercontinental Cup, launched by FIFA after the overhaul of the Club World Cup, is entering only its second edition. This format brings together the continental champions of the six confederations around a tight and rhythmic table, where regional play-offs and final phases on neutral ground combine. Real Madrid inaugurated the list in 2024 by dominating the Mexicans of Pachuca in an intense final. This year, PSG benefits from the status reserved for the European champion, that is to say that like Real last year, the capital club is automatically propelled to the final without going through the previous rounds. It is therefore simply waiting for the identity of its opponent to try to become the second European club crowned in this renovated competition.

PSG wisely observes

The preliminary rounds have already delivered their first lessons, and in particular the good trajectory of Pyramids FC, African champion, who has overcome two major obstacles since September. The Egyptians first dismissed Auckland City, champion of Oceania, with authority (3-0), before achieving a major feat by dominating Al-Ahli, Asian champion where Édouard Mendy and Riyad Mahrez play (3-1). Thanks to these successes, Pyramids qualified for the Challenger Cup, where they will face the winner of the “Derby of the Americas”, an explosive duel between Cruz Azul, CONCACAF champion, and Flamengo, just crowned by their victory in the Copa Libertadores after knocking out Palmeiras (1-0). This north-south clash will take place on December 10, and the winner will challenge Pyramids on December 13 for a place in the final against PSG.

The Parisian club will therefore carefully observe the outcome of this double confrontation, because three potential opponents emerge: Pyramids FC, the revelation of the tournament, solid, disciplined and driven by an exceptional dynamic with Fiston Mayele, Cruz Azul, a Mexican team accustomed to international meetings and renowned for its intensity, and Flamengo, a South American giant driven by the euphoria of its Copa Libertadores and widely considered the favorite in this part of the table after very good work of Filipe Luis on the bench. After the Cruz Azul – Flamengo clash on December 10, then the semi-final on December 13 against Pyramids, the identity of the finalist will be known. There will then only be one last meeting, on December 17 in Doha, where PSG will play for an additional title to crown an already historic season.