PSG Wins First Intercontinental Cup in Penalty Shootout Against Flamengo

Paris Saint-Germain claimed their first-ever Paris Saint-Germain Intercontinental Cup title in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, defeating Clube de Regatas do Flamengo 2-1 in a penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. The decisive moment came when goalkeeper Matvey Safonov made four crucial saves during the shootout, freezing Flamengo’s hopes and sending PSG fans into delirium. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG in the 37th minute, but Jorginho’s coolly taken penalty in the 68th minute leveled the match — setting the stage for one of the most thrilling club finals in recent memory.

How U.S. Fans Watched the Final

For American viewers, the match was available across multiple platforms. beIN SPORTS USA carried the game live on television, as it has for every major international club final in recent years. Streaming options included DAZN, which offered a high-definition, ad-free feed with multi-camera angles and expert commentary. But the real surprise? FIFA+ streamed the match for free — though only to users in regions without official broadcasters. That meant many U.S. fans turned to virtual private networks like NordVPN to access the stream by routing their connection through the UK or other permitted zones. TechRadar’s guide on the day warned: "FIFA+ isn’t blocking Americans outright — it’s just not offering the feed to those with local rights holders. A VPN fixes that." Fubo also advertised the match, listing it under their international sports lineup with a note: "From Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Ar Rayyan, Qatar." Though Fubo’s stream was only available to subscribers, it added Spanish-language commentary for the growing Latinx audience.

Why This Match Mattered

Flamengo entered as the undisputed kings of South America — having won both the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores in 2025. Their manager, Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea and Atlético Madrid left-back, had rebuilt the team with grit and tactical discipline. They’d already beaten Pyramids FC and Cruz Azul to reach the final, proving they weren’t just a domestic powerhouse but a global contender. Their last Intercontinental Cup win? 1981 — when they defeated Liverpool in Tokyo. That legacy loomed large.

PSG, by contrast, were the European champions, having lifted the UEFA Champions League just months earlier. Their 2025 campaign was a masterclass in consistency: 28 wins in 34 Ligue 1 matches, 11 goals from Kvaratskhelia, and a defense that tightened under pressure. But they’d never won the Intercontinental Cup — a trophy that, since its 2024 relaunch by FIFA, now crowns the true world club champion.

The stakes were higher than ever. This wasn’t just another exhibition. It was the first final under the new format — replacing the old Club World Cup with a streamlined, annual showdown between the champions of Europe and South America. No more random qualifiers. No more filler teams. Just the best of the best.

The Penalty Shootout That Changed Everything

The shootout was a clinic in nerve. Flamengo’s first two takers — Pedro and Arrascaeta — buried their shots. Then came the turning point: PSG’s Leandro Paredes stepped up, calmly slotted his, and suddenly it was 2-2. Flamengo’s third penalty — taken by Jorginho again — was saved by Safonov. The crowd gasped. The next two Flamengo shooters — Gabigol and Bruno Henrique — both hit the post. Safonov stood tall, arms outstretched, as the final whistle blew. PSG’s fourth penalty, by Sergio Ramos, was a formality.

"It’s not just a trophy," said PSG coach Luis Enrique after the match. "It’s proof we belong at the top of the world. This team has fought through injuries, criticism, and pressure. This is for everyone who believed in us." Flamengo’s Filipe Luis, ever composed, said: "We gave everything. We were close. But football is cruel. We’ll be back."

A New Era for Global Club Football

The 2025 final marked a clear shift. FIFA’s new Intercontinental Cup is no longer a footnote — it’s the centerpiece. With a $100 million prize pool, global broadcast deals, and a fixed December date, it’s quickly becoming the sport’s most coveted club title. The tournament format — Europe vs. South America — is simple, but powerful. It honors tradition while cutting through clutter.

Next year’s final will be held in the U.S. for the first time, with Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium confirmed as host. That means even more American viewers will tune in — and more pressure on U.S. broadcasters to secure rights. DAZN and beIN SPORTS are expected to renew their deals, but ESPN is rumored to be in talks for exclusive coverage.

For now, PSG hold the trophy. And for the first time in their 53-year history, they’re world champions.

Background: From Toyota Cup to FIFA Intercontinental Cup

The Intercontinental Cup began in 1960 as a two-legged contest between the winners of Europe’s European Cup and South America’s Copa Libertadores. It was known as the "Intercontinental Cup" until 1980, when Toyota took over sponsorship and renamed it the "Toyota Cup." Flamengo’s 1981 win over Liverpool remains one of the most iconic moments in club history — a 3-0 thrashing in Tokyo that cemented their global status.

FIFA discontinued the original competition in 2004, replacing it with the Club World Cup — a multi-team tournament with qualifiers from six continents. But fans missed the purity of Europe vs. South America. In 2024, FIFA revived the format — now called the FIFA Intercontinental Cup — with a single final, a new trophy, and a global spotlight. The 2025 edition was the second under this new structure, and it delivered everything the old version promised: drama, legacy, and a champion who earned it.