Flamengo will take the field this Tuesday against LAFC with a Round of 16 spot already secured and the top spot in the group guaranteed. On paper, the match doesn’t mean much. After back-to-back wins, 2-0 over Espérance and a confident 3-1 comeback against Chelsea, the Brazilian side comes in light but focused. On the other side, LAFC is already eliminated, still without a point, and wraps up its run in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Even with nothing at stake in terms of standings, the match still holds technical, emotional, and symbolic weight. It’s a moment to see how Flamengo handles being in control and to find out whether LAFC has anything left to show against a team that sits near the top of South American soccer.
Flamengo arrives confident and ready to rotate
Flamengo booked its place in the knockouts with authority. The win over Espérance was clean, and the performance against Chelsea showed grit. After going down in the 61st minute, they struck twice in the next four minutes and then used the man advantage after a red card to close the game out.
With the group lead locked in, head coach Filipe Luís is expected to make some changes. That’s where one of Flamengo’s biggest strengths comes in, squad depth. This team has options that can actually shift the momentum of a match. The coach can make adjustments without sacrificing pace or intensity. That much was clear in the first two games.
Against Chelsea, the impact off the bench was obvious. And in a short tournament, where energy management is as important as talent, that’s a real edge. Expect that same approach against LAFC.
LAFC stumbles and bows out early
LAFC entered the tournament as one of CONCACAF’s representatives, having clinched their spot just three weeks ago. But on the field, the results never matched the hype. Two games, two losses, 2-0 to Chelsea and 1-0 to Espérance. The performance against the Tunisian side especially fell short, with defensive lapses and little response after falling behind. Now, facing Flamengo, the goal is simple: finish on a stronger note.